.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=icon}
Return
Kinesiophobia and alexithymia in knee osteoarthritis: association with radiological severity
.png){kind=icon}
PRE
AI
C
I
G
U
C
K
Y
I
C
Y
E
DOI：10.7717/peerj.21039.png)
.png){kind=icon}
Original request for help.png){kind=icon}
Share.png){kind=icon}
Save
Abstract
En 中文
Background Pain and disability in knee osteoarthritis (KO) are influenced by both structural and psychosocial factors. However, the roles of kinesiophobia and alexithymia in KO remain poorly understood. Objective To investigate the relationships among kinesiophobia, alexithymia, and radiographic severity in patients with KO. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 109 adults with clinically and radiographically confirmed KO were recruited from two tertiary care centers. Demographic and clinical data were also collected. Pain intensity at rest and during movement was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), kinesiophobia with the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), and alexithymia with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS). Radiographic severity was graded according to the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) classification. Correlation and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results Kinesiophobia increased significantly with higher KL grade (r = 0.341, p < 0.001), whereas total alexithymia scores were not directly associated with radiographic severity. However, scores on the TAS subscale for difficulty identifying feelings (TAS-DIF) increased with higher KL stages (r = 0.300, p = 0.002). Kinesiophobia was further related to greater movement-evoked pain (r = 0.206, p = 0.035), higher body mass index (r = 0.317, p < 0.001), and lower education levels (r = -0.300, p = 0.002), while alexithymia was associated with movement-related evoked pain (r = 0.247, p = 0.011), lower educational attainment (r = -0.224, p = 0.021), comorbidity (r = -0.279, p = 0.004), and female sex (r = -0.201, p = 0.039). No variable independently predicted alexithymia in logistic regression analysis. Conclusion Higher radiological severity and greater movement-evoked pain are linked to increased fear of movement, whereas alexithymia appears less dependent on structural degeneration and more related to individual psychological factors. These results emphasize the interconnection between physical and psychosocial components in KOA and support a multidisciplinary, biopsychosocial approach that incorporates emotional assessment and fear-reduction strategies into routine management.
Keywords:
Knee osteoarthritis
Kinesiophobia
Alexithymia
Psychosocial factors
Pain perception
Radiographic severity
Kellgren-Lawrence classification
Emotional awareness
Fear of movement
Rehabilitation
Journal
P
IF:
2.4
Papers:
1.1K
Citations:
4.9W
Organization
Cited Papers