Kinesiophobia and associated factors in elderly females with chronic musculoskeletal pain: pilot study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fear of movement and re/injury (kinesiophobia) is factor associated to chronic pain and incapacity. Since elderly population is highly affected by chronic health problems followed by pain, especially musculoskeletal problems, it is important to understand the impact of pain-related fear on elderly females' health. This study aimed at determining the incidence of kinesiophobia in elderly females assisted in a geriatrics and gerontology ambulatory, as well as at investigating possible correlations with physical performance and other health and socio-demographic variables. METHODS: This is a crossover exploratory study with nonprobabilistic convenience sample of 30 elderly females, carried out with interviews, physical tests and medical charts review. Patients were evaluated for the presence of kinesiophobia, physical performance and other variables related to chronic musculoskeletal pain, in addition to socio-demographic information. RESULTS: There has been kinesiophobia in 80% of the sample. There has been significant moderate correlation between physical performance and kinesiophobia (r=541; p=0.002). No other correlations were found. CONCLUSION: Data have shown high incidence of kinesiophobia among evaluated elderly females, in addition to physical performance impairment associated to it.

摘要 背景与目的：运动与再发损伤恐惧（kinesiophobia）与慢性疼痛及失能密切相关。鉴于老年人群深受慢性健康问题及疼痛（尤其是肌肉骨骼疾病）的困扰，明确疼痛相关恐惧对老年女性健康的影响至关重要。本研究旨在明确在老年病与老年医学门诊接受诊疗的老年女性中运动恐惧症的发病率，并探究其与体能表现及其他健康、社会人口学变量间的潜在关联。
方法：本研究为交叉探索性研究，采用非概率便利抽样，纳入30名老年女性受试者，通过访谈、体能测试及病历回顾开展研究。研究者对受试者的运动恐惧症、体能表现、慢性肌肉骨骼疼痛相关变量及社会人口学信息进行了评估。
结果：80%的受试人群存在运动恐惧症。体能表现与运动恐惧症间存在显著中等程度相关（r=0.541；p=0.002），未发现其他显著关联。
结论：研究数据显示，纳入评估的老年女性中运动恐惧症发病率较高，且该症状与体能损害存在关联。