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Kastamonu Medical Journal

Kastamonu Medical Journal regularly publishes internationally qualified issues in the field of Medicine in the light of up-to-date information.

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Original Article
Relationship of kinesiophobia with pain, disability, and quality of life after lumbar disc surgery
Abstract
Aims: Kinesiophobia affects functionality after lumbar surgery. However, the effectiveness of kinesiophobia in the early period after lumbar disc surgery 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 lumbar disc surgery.
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 lumbar disc surgery, 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 lumbar disc surgery, 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.

Keywords : Kinesiophobia, lumbar disc surgery, pain, disability, quality of life

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Article available in :
Volume 5, Issue 4, 2025
Page : 278-282
https://doi.org/10.51271/KMJ-0225
Article Information
Received : 28 Tem 2025
Accepted : 01 Eyl 2025
Published : 02 Ara 2025
Corresponding Author :

Mahmut Ferat: Department of Neurosurgery, Adana City Hospital, Adana, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Ferat M, Apaydın AS. Relationship of kinesiophobia with pain, disability, and quality of life after lumbar disc surgery. Kastamonu Med J. 2025;5(4):278-282.

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