Relationship Between Health Literacy, Physical Activity, and Kinesiophobia in Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Objective: The principal purpose of this study was to assess the health literacy level among people experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain. A secondary aim was to analyze possible links between health literacy, kinesiophobia, and engagement in physical activity.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants aged 18 to 75 years with a history of musculoskeletal pain exceeding three months were consecutively selected from the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic. Health literacy was evaluated using the Turkish Health Literacy Scale-32 (THLS-32), physical activity level was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and kinesiophobia was assessed with the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK).Results: A total of 113 individuals participated in the study, comprising 78 women (69%) and 35 men (31%). The mean age of the cohort was 58.07 ± 12.22 years, while the average THLS-32 score was 22.22 ± 10.23. Of all participants, 63.7% had inadequate, 15.9% limited/problematic, 15% adequate, and 5.3% excellent health literacy. Health literacy significantly decreased with increasing age ( 0.05).Conclusion: Inadequate health literacy is prevalent among individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain and is often associated with advanced age and lower educational attainment. Strategies designed to enhance health literacy may contribute to reducing kinesiophobia and promoting better adherence to treatment.