Outcome measures for fear of movement in individuals with musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review with meta- analysis.

INTRODUCTION

Fear of movement is a significant psychological factor in musculoskeletal disorders and can negatively affect clinical outcomes. Several assessment tools are currently available to measure fear of movement. This systematic review aimed to analyze and compare the psychometric properties of the main scales used in populations with musculoskeletal disorders.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Studies were identified through MEDLINE (via PubMed), CINAHL (via EBSCO), Web of Science, and Scopus. Methodological quality was assessed using the COSMIN checklist. A meta-analysis was performed on studies reporting internal consistency.

RESULTS

99 studies were included, identifying a total of 29 assessment tools. Most instruments demonstrated good reliability and validity. However, substantial heterogeneity in methodological quality was observed, together with limited reporting of measurement error and responsiveness across studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Numerous tools are available for assessing fear of movement, with some scales showing high levels of reliability and validity across different clinical and linguistic contexts. These findings provide useful guidance for selecting appropriate instruments for clinical practice and research, supporting improved assessment and management of fear of movement in patients with musculoskeletal pain.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero identifier is CRD420251009756.