What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Coronary heart disease (n=401). Intervention: Kinesiophobia vs. No kinesiophobia. Primary outcome: Low physical activity (< 600 MET-min/week) (OR 13.02, 95% CI 4.85-34.97, p=<0.001).

What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aimed to assess kinesiophobia levels and their impact on physical activity in patients with coronary heart disease.

April 28, 2026Open Access

Effect of kinesiophobia on physical activity level in patients with coronary heart disease

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Kinesiophobia increased the likelihood of low physical activity by 13-fold in patients with coronary heart disease compared to those without kinesiophobia (OR 13.02).

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aimed to assess kinesiophobia levels and their impact on physical activity in patients with coronary heart disease.

Key Result

Kinesiophobia increased the likelihood of low physical activity by 13-fold in patients with coronary heart disease compared to those without kinesiophobia (OR 13.02).

Key Points

This study aimed to assess kinesiophobia levels and their impact on physical activity in patients with coronary heart disease.
Conducted a quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive study with 401 hospitalized CHD patients.
Collected data using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia for Heart and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form.
Analyzed the association between kinesiophobia and physical activity levels.
69.08% of CHD patients reported kinesiophobia.
Median physical activity level was 924 metabolic equivalent minutes per week.
A strong negative correlation was found between TSK scores and physical activity MET values (r = −0.509, P < 0.01).

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=401)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Population

401 hospitalized patients with clinically stable coronary heart disease (CHD), median age 59, 60.60% male, in China. Key inclusion: stable condition (no angina episodes or changes in past month), age ≥18, able to walk independently. Key exclusion: first diagnosed with unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, mental diseases, cognitive disorders, or lumbar/leg problems unsuitable for exercise.

Outcome

Levels of kinesiophobia (measured by TSK-SV Heart) and physical activity (measured by IPAQ-S-C), and their association.patient reported

Kinesiophobia is highly prevalent among patients with coronary heart disease and serves as a strong independent predictor of low physical activity levels.

Main Result

Effect estimate: OR 13.02 (95% CI 4.85-34.97)

p-value: p=<0.001

Limitations

Cross-sectional design precludes causal inferences
Physical activity assessed using self-report measures subject to recall bias and social desirability
Absence of angina assessment which may confound fear perceptions and activity levels
Single-center design may limit generalizability to diverse healthcare settings

Abstract

Background Physical activity (PA) is an established effective intervention to improve the prognosis of patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, exercise-related barriers frequently hinder PA engagement among this population, limiting its beneficial effects. Given the critical role of PA in cardiac rehabilitation and promising findings from relevant studies, the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) has been increasingly adopted to assess kinesiophobia in CVD patients. In China, however, understanding of this issue remains inadequate, with related research initiating relatively late. Objective This study aimed to determine the levels of kinesiophobia and PA in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and evaluate the impact of kinesiophobia on PA levels. Design A quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. Participants A convenience sample of 401 hospitalized CHD patients was recruited. Settings Two Grade A tertiary hospitals in Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Methods Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia for Heart (TSK-SV Heart), and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-S-C). Kinesiophobia levels, physical activity levels, and their association were analyzed. Results The incidence of kinesiophobia among CHD patients was 69.08%. The median PA level was 924 metabolic equivalent minutes per week (MET-min/week). Correlation analysis revealed a strong negative correlation between TSK scores (total and subscale) and PA MET values (r = −0.509, P 0.01). Logistic regression analysis indicated that CHD patients with kinesiophobia were 13.023 times more likely to be in the low PA group compared to those without kinesiophobia. Conclusions CHD patients exhibit poor PA levels and an alarmingly high incidence of kinesiophobia. Kinesiophobia scores have a strong negative impact on PA engagement. Healthcare providers should pay close attention to this issue and implement timely interventions to address kinesiophobia in CHD patients.

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