Assessment of kinesiophobia in ulcerative colitis: a case-control study highlighting functional and psychological implications.

OBJECTIVE

Idiopathic colitis is a chronic disorder, and the pain, fatigue, and anxiety associated with this condition may promote the evolution of kinesiophobia, a fear of movement that limits physical activity and worsens quality of life. However, this relationship has been understudied. Therefore, the aim of this research was to compare kinesiophobia scores in ulcerative colitis subjects to those in healthy controls.

METHODS

In this case-control study, 106 subjects participated; 53 healthy participants were selected from private podiatry clinics; and 53 patients with ulcerative colitis were selected from the Virgen Macarena University Hospital and the Association of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Patients of Seville (ACCU) Seville association. Each participant received the abbreviated Spanish version of the Fear of Movement Scale, known as Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia.

RESULTS

Subjects with ulcerative colitis had higher total Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia scores compared to healthy subjects (24.98 ± 8.01 vs. 21.94 ± 6.18; p=0.016). Moderate to severe kinesiophobia was present in 49.1% of the ulcerative colitis patients, compared with 30.2% in the control group. The ulcerative colitis group had a significantly higher percentage of participants with severe kinesiophobia (11.3 vs. 1.9%).

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight the importance of early assessment of fear of movement to support interventions aimed at improving physical activity participation, functional capacity, and overall quality of life in this population.