With Halloween almost upon us I needed a suitable topic and conjured up the fear of movement

“Kinesiophobia”

(not a fear of k-tape)

This blog is based on the article “Treatments for Kinesiophobia in People with Chronic Pain: A Scoping Review” (Bordeleau et al., 2022)

Kinesiophobia is the fear of movement and it is central to our clinical work. It requires understanding, patience and guidance to overcome it.  Over time, this fear can become a major barrier to recovery, leading to reduced activity, muscle weakness, and even more pain, creating a frustrating cycle of fear and avoidance.

Why Does It Matter in Rehab?

As rehab professionals, you’ll meet many patients who are physically able to move, but psychologically held back by fear. Research shows that up to 70% of people with chronic pain experience some level of kinesiophobia. Understanding this fear isn’t just about empathy, it’s about challenging kinesiophobia.

If Kinesiophobia is not delt with it can stop even the best exercise plan, treatment and taping included.

What the Review Found

Bordeleau and colleagues (2022) reviewed 27 randomized controlled trials (1,382 participants) exploring how different treatments affect kinesiophobia. Here’s what they found:

1. Exercise is the most common and effective treatment

Most interventions used physical exercise — Pilates, stabilisation, aquatic therapy, or graded exposure exercises. Movement helps patients rebuild confidence in their bodies and reframe the idea that movement = danger (it does not).

2. Multidisciplinary approaches show promise

Some of the best outcomes came from combining exercise with education, relaxation, and behavioral therapy.
For example:

• Pain neuroscience education + exercise helped patients reframe their beliefs about pain.
• Relaxation training and mindfulness improved both physical and emotional control. I think massage would justifiably fit in here too.

3. Most studies focus on musculoskeletal pain

About 70% of the research targeted chronic low back or neck pain — but evidence is emerging for other conditions like fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and temporomandibular disorders.

4. The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) dominates

Nearly all studies used the TSK to measure fear of movement. It’s reliable but can be time-consuming, leading some clinicians to prefer shorter versions (e.g., TSK-11).

Clinical Gems

Always assess for fear of movement — not just pain or strength. Use tools like the TSK

Educate your patients — explain pain neuroscience in simple terms to reduce fear and build trust.

1. Encourage movement early — even small, graded exposures can reduce kinesiophobia.
2. Think biopsychosocially — pain is not just a tissue issue; it’s shaped by thoughts, emotions, and environment.
3. Collaborate with other professionals — psychologists, nurses, and educators can enhance treatment outcomes. Not always so easy for solo practitioners. Perhaps learning some CBT or Motivational Interviewing would help.

By addressing both physical and psychological factors, we can help patients move with confidence again — and that’s at the heart of effective, modern rehabilitation.

Reference:
Bordeleau, M., Vincenot, M., Lefevre, S., Duport, A., Seggio, L., Breton, T., et al. (2022). Treatments for Kinesiophobia in People with Chronic Pain: A Scoping Review. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 16:933483. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2022.933483