Interventions to reduce kinesiophobia in breast cancer patients: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND

Kinesiophobia is prevalent in breast cancer (BC) patients, often reducing physical activity and impairing rehabilitation outcomes. A systematic evaluation of interventions targeting kinesiophobia in this population is essential.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the characteristics and efficacy of interventions for reducing kinesiophobia in BC patients. DATA SOURCES: We systematically searched seven databases (PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, APA PsycInfo) for English-language studies from inception to May 2025. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Eligible studies included Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental, and pre/post designs reporting kinesiophobia-related outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute tools.

RESULTS

Eight studies (total sample size=404) evaluated seven interventions: pain neuroscience education (PNE) combined with therapeutic exercise (N=3), telerehabilitation-based relaxation (N=1), virtual reality (VR) rehabilitation (N=1), mirror therapy (MT) (N=1), complete decongestive therapy (CDT) (N=1), progressive supervised exercise (N=1), and health education (HE) (N=1). The interventions comprised 10-36 sessions delivered over 6-16 weeks, mostly therapist-delivered. Five studies were high-quality, with only two reporting non-significant effects. Preliminary evidence suggests PNE combined with therapeutic exercise, VR, MT, and progressive exercise may reduce kinesiophobia. However, the efficacy of HE alone, remotely supervised exercise, and CDT remains unclear.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the effectiveness of interventions targeting kinesiophobia in BC patients appears to be mixed, and the evidence base for each intervention remains limited. Future studies should prioritize kinesiophobia as a primary outcome and strengthen the evidence through larger sample sizes, extended follow-up periods, and high-quality RCTs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CRD420251060712.