Kinesiophobia
Pronunciation: kin-ee-see-oh-FOH-bee-uh
An excessive, irrational, and debilitating fear of physical movement or activity resulting from a belief that movement will cause re-injury or pain.
Full Definition
Kinesiophobia is a psychosocial construct commonly assessed in chronic pain and musculoskeletal rehabilitation populations using tools such as the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK). It is associated with pain catastrophising, avoidance behavior, and poor rehabilitation outcomes. Editors encountering this term should note its Greek etymology (kinesis = movement; phobia = fear) and ensure it is not trivialised as mere 'reluctance to exercise'. The term is hyphenated neither as a standalone noun nor as a compound modifier and is always presented as one word.
Usage
Usage note: One word, no hyphen. Do not substitute with informal phrases such as 'fear of exercise' in clinical documents unless the source author uses that phrasing explicitly.
In Context
- "High Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia scores predicted poor functional outcomes at six-month follow-up in this low-back-pain cohort." — Rehabilitation outcomes research abstract
- "Kinesiophobia was addressed through graded activity exposure and cognitive behavioral strategies." — Physiotherapy discharge summary