More Physical Activity Is Correlated With Reduction in Kinesiophobia for Adolescents With Persistent Symptoms After Concussion.

Context: The relationship between physical activity (PA) and fear of pain with movement (ie, kinesiophobia) during concussion recovery is unknown. Kinesiophobia may limit PA, while PA after concussion may reduce kinesiophobia. Our purpose was to examine the correlation between PA and self-reported kinesiophobia during concussion recovery for adolescents with and without persistent symptoms.

Design: Prospective cohort study of children ages 10-18 years within 14 days of concussion.

Methods: Participants rated kinesiophobia using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) at initial (≤14 d postconcussion) and return to play (RTP) assessments, and wore activity monitors between assessments. Our primary outcome was TSK score change from initial to RTP assessments. We grouped participants based on whether they experienced persistent symptoms (symptoms ≥28 days) or not (symptoms <28 days) and calculated correlation coefficients (Pearson r for normally distributed and Spearman rho for nonnormally distributed variables) between PA variables and TSK change scores.

Results: Among the 41 participants enrolled, 44% developed persistent symptoms (n = 18; age = 14.5 [2.0] y; 50% female; symptom duration = 57.3 [6.2] d; RTP = 66.8 [6.4] d) and 56% did not (n = 23; age = 14.9 [1.8] y; 48% female; symptom duration = 15.2 [1.5] d; RTP = 21.7 [1.9] d). For the persistent symptoms group, greater TSK change scores (mean = -2.5 [5.7] point change) were significantly and moderately correlated with higher daily step count (r = -.60, P = .008) and exercise frequency (r = -.63, P = .005), but were not correlated with exercise duration (ρ = -.12, P = .65). Among the no persistent symptoms group, TSK change scores (mean = -6.0 [5.0] point change) were not correlated with step count (r = -.18, P = .41) or exercise duration (ρ = .10, P = .67), and the correlation with frequency was low and not significant (r = -.34, P = .12).

Conclusions: Regular PA during concussion recovery, regardless of duration or intensity, may help reduce kinesiophobia for those experiencing persistent symptoms.