Kinesiophobia and Its Correlation with Upper Limb and Hand Functionality Among Individuals with Wrist/Hand Injury: A...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Psychology

Background:

• Wrist and hand injuries are prevalent, leading to significant health issues and prolonged disability.
• Fear of movement (kinesiophobia) can impede physical recovery and upper limb function post-injury.
• Understanding factors influencing recovery is crucial for effective rehabilitation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationships between kinesiophobia, pain catastrophizing, and functional outcomes (QuickDASH, PRWE) after wrist/hand immobilization.
• To assess the predictive value of baseline kinesiophobia on upper limb functionality post-immobilization.

Main Methods:

• 64 patients with wrist/hand injuries requiring immobilization were evaluated post-immobilization.
• Validated questionnaires assessed kinesiophobia (TSK), pain catastrophizing (PCS), and upper limb function (QuickDASH, PRWE).
• Pearson correlation and multivariate linear regression analyses were employed.

Main Results:

• Significant positive correlations were found between kinesiophobia (TSK) and both QuickDASH (r=0.848) and PCS (r=0.521).
• The regression model indicated that PRWE, PCS, and QuickDASH were important predictors of dysfunction, explaining 30.4% of the variance.
• Kinesiophobia, while correlated, did not emerge as a significant independent predictor of upper limb dysfunction in this model.

Conclusions:

• Kinesiophobia is associated with pain catastrophizing and functional limitations after wrist/hand immobilization.
• While contributing to the overall picture, kinesiophobia alone is not a primary driver of dysfunction in this context.
• Further research may explore combined psychological interventions to improve outcomes.