Kinesiophobia - when movement becomes a threat
"I'd better not move - I don't want to break anything again."
"When I bend down, the pain comes back - it was the same last time."
"I'd do sport, but I'm just too scared."
We encounter these phrases every day in our practice. There is often more behind them than just caution: a deeply rooted fear of movement - kinesiophobia.
The term is made up of the Greek kinesis (movement) and phobos (fear) and describes a psychological reaction that can significantly influence the course of chronic pain.
What is kinesiophobia?
Kinesiophobia is the exaggerated, usually learned fear that movement will lead to injury, aggravation or pain. It often develops after an acute pain event, trauma or incorrect information. It is fueled by uncertain diagnoses, fear-inducing language ("herniated disc", "worn out", "instability") or negative therapy experiences.
The result:
Avoidance of movement
Reduction of muscles and function
Increase in pain due to inactivity
Increasing anxiety - creating a vicious circle
Why is this so therapeutically relevant?
Kinesiophobia is one of the strongest predictors of chronic back pain, joint pain and post-operative courses. It influences healing, quality of life and the overall experience of movement.
It is not the fear itself that is the problem - but the unresolved alarm condition in the system.
How do we recognize kinesiophobia?
Patients move too cautiously, avoidantly or under tension
They show pronounced safety behavior - e.g. supporting, holding on, avoiding certain movements
They often ask about structural damage or confirm their own defect assumptions
Questionnaires such as the TSK (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia) can help as a screening tool
What can we do as therapists?
Education
- Understanding helps. When patients understand why they are afraid - and why fear does not necessarily mean danger - change begins.Enable safe movement
- Small, controlled movements in the pain-free or pain-acceptable range help to develop confidence again.Experience corrects
- exercise that does no harm works directly against the fear memory. The more often, the more lasting.Choose language consciously
- No scare words, no "damage", no "broken". Instead: stability, adaptability, resilience.Train body awareness
- If you can feel yourself again, you can move yourself again.
Kinesiophobia does not need confrontation - it needs security.
The aim is not to "train away" the fear, but to enable a new approach to movement. Gently. Self-determined. And sustainable.
Conclusion:
Kinesiophobia is not a weakness, but a learned protective reaction. Our task is to replace this protection with trust - in the body, in movement and in our own strength.
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