Kinesiophobia vs. Task-Specific Fear: Defining Movement-Related Fear in ACL Reconstruction Patients
NCT ID: NCT07190456
Last Updated: 2025-12-17
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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RECRUITING
NA
21 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2026-01-01
2026-12-01
Brief Summary
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While the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) is considered a gold standard for assessing kinesiophobia, recent studies have raised concerns about its validity, especially in ACLR patients. The TSK may not adequately capture fear of specific sports activities, which is more common in ACLR patients than a general phobia of movement. Some researchers argue for an assessment approach similar to that used for pain experiences, emphasizing the subjective nature of fear.
Based on the specific phobia model, assessing kinesiophobia in the presence of a trigger, such as visualizing or confronting the movement associated with the injury, may be more relevant. This approach is supported by evidence showing that sports situations evoking the greatest fear after ACLR are cutting, jumping, and contact. Further research is needed to investigate alternative methodologies for assessing fear of movement in ACLR patients, considering the prevalence and repercussions of kinesiophobia in this population.
The objectives of this study are threefold:
* To compare the magnitude of kinesiophobia through the TSK, the subjective feeling of fear when visualising feared movements, and the subjective feeling of fear in anticipation of the feared situation.
* Evaluate the impact of focusing on feared activities on motor behavior and Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) markers.
* To assess the relation between the three methods of assessing fear of movement and indicators of motor behaviour, ANS activity, fear-avoidance beliefs, anxiety, avoidance behaviour, and physical function.
Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
CROSSOVER
BASIC_SCIENCE
DOUBLE
Study Groups
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Neutral images
The patient will have to walk on a treadmill at their preferential walking speed for 10 minutes while visualizing neutral images (landscapes, monuments...)
Exposure to neutral images visualization
The patient will have to walk on a treadmill at their preferential walking speed for 10 minutes while visualizing neutral images (landscapes, monuments...)
Nocive images
The patient will have to walk on a treadmill at their preferential walking speed for 10 minutes while visualizing images interpreted as nocive (cutting, jumping, contact...)
Exposure to nocive images visualisation
The patient will have to walk on a treadmill at their preferential walking speed for 10 minutes while visualizing images interpreted as nocive (cutting, jumping, contact...)
Antecipation feared movement
Before the start of the experimental condition, the patient will be asked to think about their willingness to perform the first movement visualised in the video, while a researcher places a jumping platform inside the laboratory.
During the test, the patient will have to walk on a treadmill at their preferred speed for 10 minutes, while watching a video showing a drop jump followed by images interpreted as nocive for the rest of the time.
Exposure to anticipated realisation of a feared movement
Before the start of the experimental condition, the patient will be asked to think about their willingness to perform the first movement visualised in the video, while a researcher places a jumping platform inside the laboratory. During the test, the patient will have to walk on a treadmill at their preferred speed for 10 minutes, while watching a video showing a drop jump followed by images interpreted as nocive for the rest of the time.
Interventions
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Exposure to neutral images visualization
The patient will have to walk on a treadmill at their preferential walking speed for 10 minutes while visualizing neutral images (landscapes, monuments...)
Exposure to nocive images visualisation
The patient will have to walk on a treadmill at their preferential walking speed for 10 minutes while visualizing images interpreted as nocive (cutting, jumping, contact...)
Exposure to anticipated realisation of a feared movement
Before the start of the experimental condition, the patient will be asked to think about their willingness to perform the first movement visualised in the video, while a researcher places a jumping platform inside the laboratory. During the test, the patient will have to walk on a treadmill at their preferred speed for 10 minutes, while watching a video showing a drop jump followed by images interpreted as nocive for the rest of the time.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* The patient must have enough comprehension of the Portuguese language to complete the written questionnaires.
* The patient must have suffered an ACL injury, with or without a history of concomitant meniscal pathology, while playing or training for sport (recreational or organized).
* The patient must have undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery.
* The patient must be between 18 and 35 years old.
* The patient must still be under medical care/rehabilitation due to the ACL injury.
* The patient must have started jump landing tasks.
Exclusion Criteria
* The subject has not injured the ACL while playing sports.
* The subject presents a concurrent psychiatric disorder
* The subject has a history of heart disease and/or peripheral vascular disease and/or metabolic disease and/or Raynaud´s Syndrome.
* The subject is taking any medications known to affect heart rate or blood pressure
* The subject is currently a smoker.
18 Years
35 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Locations
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Clínica de Fisioterapia Egas Moniz
Caparica, Almada, Portugal
Egas Moniz School of Health & Science
Almada, Monte Da Caparica, Portugal
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Other Identifiers
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1476
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id