ACCEPTABILITY AND FEASIBILITY OF A 1-WEEK GRADED EXPOSURE INTERVENTION ON FEAR IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ANKLE INSTABILITY

Study aims to find the acceptability and feasibility of a 1-week graded exposure (GE) intervention to reduce kinesiophobia in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Participants completed patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) pre and post the intervention on fear of movement and task-specific fears and at the end filled out acceptability and feasibility measures. Results showed strong feasibility through high recruitment, retention, and adherence and moderately acceptable from participants responses on acceptability survey. Reduction of kinesiophobia was also shown as a secondary outcome from intervention. Findings suggest GE is acceptable and feasible to be implemented into CAI patients with kinesiophobia to help reduce fear, especially individuals with higher baseline fear scores.