Kinesiotherapy as a Strategy for Reducing Kinesiophobia in Patients with Chronic Cervical Pain: An Integrative Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55892/jrg.v8i19.2669Keywords:
Kinesiotherapy, Chronic neck pain, Therapeutic exercise, Physical therapyAbstract
Introduction: Chronic neck pain is a common musculoskeletal condition associated with functional limitation and kinesiophobia — the fear of movement due to the anticipation of pain or injury. In this context, kinesiotherapy has been widely used as a therapeutic strategy to restore function and reduce fear of movement. Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of kinesiotherapy in reducing kinesiophobia in adults with chronic neck pain. Methodology: An integrative review was conducted in the PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, Lilacs, SciELO, and Web of Science databases, including randomized clinical trials published between 2020 and 2025. Results: Eight studies were selected that investigated interventions based on kinesiotherapy, either alone or combined with other therapeutic modalities. Discussion: Kinesiotherapy proved effective in reducing kinesiophobia, pain, and functional disability, in addition to promoting improvements in quality of life. Protocols combining exercise with pain education or virtual reality showed superior results, whereas passive modalities such as electrotherapy did not provide additional benefits. Conclusion: Kinesiotherapy is a safe and effective intervention for managing chronic neck pain, acting integratively on both physical and psychosocial factors
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