Association Between Kinesiophobia and Life Space Among Community-Dwelling Older People with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Objective Kinesiophobia (i.e., fear of movement caused by pain) is increasingly acknowledged as a determinant of disuse among patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Kinesiophobia may affect life space—a crucial indicator of an active lifestyle among older people. This study aimed to investigate the previously unexamined association between kinesiophobia and life space among community-dwelling older people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Community. Subjects We analyzed data from 194 community-dwelling older people (age ≥65 years, mean age = 75.7 years, 71.6% women) with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Methods Kinesiophobia, life space, and pain severity were assessed using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, Life Space Assessment, and Brief Pain Inventory. Linear regression models were applied to analyze the associations between kinesiophobia and life space, and pain severity and life space. Results In our sample, the prevalence rates for chronic musculoskeletal pain were 10.82% (N = 21) for neck, 55.15% (N = 107) for lower back, 25.26% (N = 49) for shoulder, and 50.00% (N = 97) for knee. The results suggest that higher kinesiophobia is associated with smaller life space (adjusted beta = −0.91, 95% CI = −1.43 to −0.45, P < 0.001), even after adjustment for age, gender, years of education, pain severity, and presence of comorbidity. On the contrary, no significant association between pain severity and life space was observed (adjusted beta = −0.61, 95% CI = −2.92 to 1.72, P = 0.624). Conclusions Our findings suggest that kinesiophobia plays an important role in the determination of life space among older people with chronic musculoskeletal pain.