Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia

What it measures

Measures fear of movement and re-injury — the belief that movement or physical activity will cause pain or re-injury. Kinesiophobia (fear of movement) is one of the strongest psychological predictors of chronic pain disability, work absenteeism, and failure to return to normal activities following musculoskeletal injury. Patients high in kinesiophobia avoid beneficial physical activity based on catastrophic misinterpretation of pain signals, creating a vicious cycle of deconditioning and heightened pain sensitivity. The TSK is used as a primary screen and outcome variable in pain rehabilitation, physiotherapy, occupational health, and chronic pain intervention research. The two-factor structure distinguishes fear-driven activity avoidance from beliefs about bodily harm and fragility.

Representative items

• I'm afraid that I might injure myself if I exercise. (Harm)
• If I were to try to overcome my pain, the pain would increase. (Activity Avoidance)
• My body is telling me I have something dangerously wrong. (Harm)
• People aren't taking my medical condition seriously enough. (Activity Avoidance)
• My accident has put my body at risk for the rest of my life. (Harm)

Citation

Miller, R.P., Kori, S.H., & Todd, D.D. (1991). The Tampa Scale. Unpublished report, Tampa, FL.