Effect of Kinesiophobia on Early Functional Outcome Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

Kinesiophobia, which refers to the fear of physical movement and activity due to vulnerability to injury, has been associated with suboptimal outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study aimed to assess the impact of kinesiophobia on early functional outcomes after TKA.

A cohort analysis was conducted on 60 participants aged 18 years and older. Detailed sociodemographic characteristics were recorded, and the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia was used to evaluate kinesiophobia. Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale, knee flexion was assessed using a goniometer, and functional status was evaluated using the Oxford Knee Score. Data were collected and analyzed accordingly.

The mean age of the patients was 56.62 ± 6.28 years, with a higher proportion of male participants in the study. The majority of patients were from the middle class (75.00%), employed (91.67%), graduates (76.67%), and married (93.33%). Positive coping style had a significantly higher mean score compared to negative coping style ( P = 0.0001*). Most patients received moderate social support (61.67%) ( P = 0.0008*). Kinesiophobia, as measured by the Tampa Scale score, demonstrated a decreasing trend with a significant difference ( P < 0.0001*). The highest kinesiophobia score was observed at 2 weeks (58.29 ± 3.51), whereas the lowest was at 6 months (21.48 ± 1.32). Significant differences were noted in pain intensity, flexion, and functional status from 2 weeks to 6 months. Age, educational status, coping style, social support, high pain intensity, and low flexion were identified as significant risk factors for kinesiophobia.

During the initial postoperative period, most patients exhibit low levels of kinesiophobia. Targeted interventions focusing on positive coping, social support, pain management, and improvement of knee flexion can effectively address kinesiophobia and enhance rehabilitation outcomes.