Mahmut Ferat, Aydın Sinan Apaydın
Kastamonu Medical Journal - 2025;5(4):278-282
Aims: Kinesiophobia affects functionality after lumbar surgery. However, the effectiveness of kinesiophobia in the early period after lumbar disc surgery (LDS) is unknown. This study aimed to compare the pain, disability, and quality of life of patients according to the level of kinesiophobia in the early period after LDS. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 49 patients who underwent microscopic lumbar discectomy surgery. Patients were divided into two groups: high (>37 points) and low (<37 points) kinesiophobia according to the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK). At one week after LDS, pain intensity [Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)], disability [Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)], and quality of life (Short Form-36 (SF-36)) were evaluated. Results: High kinesiophobia developed in 48.9% of the patients. In the high kinesiophobia group, low back and leg NRS and ODI scores were higher than in the low kinesiophobia group (p<0.05), and SF-36 sub parameter scores were lower (p<0.05) except emotional role (p=0.279). There was a positive correlation between TSK and low back (r=0.317, p=0.027) and leg NRS (r=0.348, p=0.014) and ODI (r=0.668, p<0.001), and a negative correlation with SF-36 sub parameters (p<0.05) except emotional role (p=0.198). Conclusion: After LDS, kinesiophobia may develop in approximately half of the patients in the early period, and high kinesiophobia causes an increase in the severity of pain and disability of patients, and a deterioration in their quality of life. Therefore, kinesiophobia should be evaluated to improve functionality in the early period after surgery, and appropriate approaches should be used for better health outcomes.
