Association of Standing Balance and Kinesiophobia in Post-Operative Total Knee Replacement: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Total knee replacement surgery is a prevalent treatment for advanced osteoarthritis, involving the replacement of the knee joint with a metal and plastic prosthetic. However, patients may face challenges such as kinesiophobia (fear of movement) and impaired standing balance, which can compromise postoperative recovery. Objective: To investigate the association between standing balance and kinesiophobia in post-operative total knee replacement. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out at the Hayatabad Medical Complex and Maqsood Medical Complex, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, from Aug 2023 to March 2024. The seventy-three participants who had total knee replacement completed a written informed consent form before taking part in the study. A non-probability convenience sampling was used for data collection. The inclusion criteria were males and females aged 40-65 years admitted post-total knee replacement and willing to participate in our study. The exclusion criteria included the patients who had any additional co-morbidity or disability, malignancy, or any joint replacement in the lower limb, and any neurological chronic disease such as stroke, Parkinson’s, etc. The Tampa scale of kinesiophobia and functional reach test were used, which are reliable and valid and include different related parameters. Results: A total of 73 participants, consisting of 39 males (53.4%) and 34 females (46.6%), took part in the study, with a mean age of 53.33 years. The majority of participants fell within the 51-55 age bracket, while fewer participants were in the 61-65 age group. Notably, a significant negative correlation (r=-0.4, p=0.04) was found between functional reach test scores and Tampa scale of kinesiophobia scores, indicating that higher levels of kinesiophobia were associated with poorer standing balance. The study's findings suggest that there is no significant relationship between kinesiophobia and participant gender. However, the results highlight the crucial importance of addressing both kinesiophobia and standing balance in rehabilitation programs, potentially leading to improved post-operative outcomes and enhanced patient functionality.