Overcoming Pain and Kinesiophobia: Unlocking the Path to Better Knee Osteoarthritis Rehabilitation

Abstract

Objectives: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rehabilitation aims to assess the impact of pain reduction on kinesiophobia and outpatient welfare, emphasizing the interconnectedness of biopsychosocial factors in the rehabilitative process. Methods: The study involved a sample of KOA patients undergoing outpatient physical therapy. Forty patients (n = 40), aged 40–88, with acute or chronic knee osteoarthritis (Kellegren-Lawrence staging score I–II–III) were collected in Patients undergoing physical therapy using quantum molecular resonance (QMR) technology. The analysis employed a cross-lagged panel model to examine the relationships between perceived pain, kinesiophobia, and quality of life during the rehabilitative plan. Results: Rehabilitation significantly reduced pain levels and kinesiophobia while improving the quality of life for outpatients. The analysis demonstrated that pain reduction had a substantial causal influence on kinesiophobia and life conditions, both immediately following treatment and during follow-up. Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of considering biopsychosocial factors in KOA rehabilitative treatment, highlighting the dynamic interplay between pain perception, kinesiophobia, and quality of life throughout the rehabilitation process.