Research Article

Influence of Kinesiophobia following Lower Limb Injuries in Physical Education and Sports Science Students

Abstract

Background: Physical education and sports science students undergo physical training as a part of their curriculum and participate in competitive-level sports, including tournaments or championships, to further their career training. Lower limb injuries, including sprains, strains, joint soft tissue injuries, are more common among students. With lower limb injury, students could face impairments and  psychological consequences that can affect the rehabilitation outcomes and the return to physical activity. Kinesiophobia acts as a barrier to recovery and to functional restoration. Objective: The primary aim of this study was to assess the influence of kinesiophobia among Physical Education and Sports Science students with a history of lower limb injuries. Methods: This study was designed as a cross-sectional study to investigate influence of kinesiophobia among Physical Education and Sports Science students of Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia questionnaire was mailed to all the students in a Google Form after obtaining informed consent. The Google form included the student’s basic demographic data, their level of sports participation, types of sports participation, occurrence of sports injury, and the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia to assess their fear of pain. Results: 171 students have completed the survey, with 54.4% being male, and 34.8% were between 19 - 21 years old. Lower limb injuries had occurred in 53.8% of participants at least once. Lower limb injury was mainly associated with sports like Kabaddi (30.8%), and the level of participation was at the intercollegiate level (39.8%), with 93% of students participating in competitive sports. High levels of kinesiophobia were detected in 43.7% of University student athletes irrespective of departments. The student athletes of both experimental group who had been exposed to injuries like sprain, strain and selection of sports have no significant variance in the high levels of kinesiophobia. Conclusion: University student athletes with a lower limb injury were insignificant to have greater risk of developing kinesiophobia. The results showed that there were no significant differences in Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia scores in relation to the demographic and injury-oriented characteristics among the physical education and sports science students stating that the moderate kinesiophobia was evenly distributed among the subjects.