Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic and degenerative disease, reported as one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Its incidence is higher in women, especially after menopause. Persistent pain is one of the main symptoms contributing to greater difficulty in performing daily tasks, such as sitting and standing from a chair. Kinesiophobia, defined as an intense fear of experiencing pain during movement, is a factor that may predict functional capacity and influence the movement pattern adopted by this population. Understanding the relationship between kinesiophobia and the kinematics of the sit-to-stand movement may contribute to a better understanding of the factors that contribute to functional limitations in women with KOA.

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between kinesiophobia and lower limb kinematics during the sit-to-stand test in women with KOA.

The research project was approved by the Ethics Committee of Unesp/Marília, and all participants signed the informed consent form. A total of thirty-five women (67,00 ± 8,43), with a medical diagnosis of KOA participated in the study. Initially, an anamnesis was conducted to collect personal and anthropometric data. To assess kinesiophobia, the Brief Fear of Movement Scale, a reduced version of the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale, was administered. This scale consists of 6 statements which relate symptom intensity to fear of movement. Subsequently, a kinematic assessment of the lower limb was performed during the sit-to-stand test. The images were processed using Kinovea® software. For statistical analysis, Pearson correlation test was applied, considering a significance level of p < 0,05.

Knee flexion (p = 0,005, r = 0,776) and knee valgus (p = 0,006, r = -0,303) angles during the sit-to-stand movement are associated with the level of kinesiophobia in women with KOA.

Women with KOA may alter their movement patterns when performing daily tasks as an attempt to avoid pain, due to fear of movement.

Kinesiophobia is a cognitive-behavioral factor that significantly affects the functionality of women with KOA, leading to kinematic alterations as an attempt to avoid pain. Given the high prevalence of kinesiophobia among older adults with musculoskeletal conditions, understanding the relationship between kinesiophobia and lower limb kinematics during functional movements highlights the importance of biopsychosocial approach in the physiotherapeutic treatment of individuals with KOA. To make treatment more personalized for this population, it is essential to provide education on the factors related to KOA and to progressively introduce individualized functional goals for each individual.