Investigation of exercise-related leg pain, fear of pain, kinesiophobia, and injury anxiety in athletes

Abstract

Background This study aimed to investigate the relationship between exercise-induced leg pain, fear of pain, kinesiophobia and injury anxiety in amateur and professional athletes. Secondarily, the present study also aimed to investigate the relationship between women or men athletes and individual or team sports. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 304 athletes. Participants were categorized as amateur and professional athletes, male and female athletes, individual and team athletes. Participants were evaluated with Exercise Induced Leg Pain Questionnaire (EILP), Fear of Pain Questionnaire (FOPQ), Sports Injury Anxiety Scale (SIAS), and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK). Parametric tests were used for statistical analysis. A statistical significance level of 0.05 was chosen. Results Fear of pain and anxiety about sports injury were significantly less in men (p<0.05). Loss of social support for sports injury anxiety was less in women (p<0.05). Anxiety about sports re-injury was less in professional athletes (p<0.05). Anxiety about letting down important Others and loss of social support were greater in team sports (p<0.05). Besides, there was a positive, moderate, and significant correlation between the Fear of Pain QuestionnaireIII Total and Tampa scale for kinesiophobia (r=0.411, p<0.01). Finally, a positive, moderate and significant correlation was found between Sport Injury Anxiety Scale Total and Tampa scale for kinesiophobia (r=0.579, p<0.01). Conclusion Exercise and movement were associated with psychological parameters related to injury and pain in athletes. Female athletes were found to have more injury anxiety and fear of pain. In addition, amateur athletes have more injury anxiety. Besides, injury anxiety was found to be higher in individuals in team sports. Future studies may further investigate these groups who are more disadvantaged in terms of anxiety, fear of pain and kinesiophobia. In addition, clinicians should pay attention to the criteria for a biopsychosocial approach by choosing appropriate descriptive phrases to avoid exacerbating athletes’ anxiety.