Effectiveness of Deep Breathing and Selected Yoga Asanas on Kinesiophobia among Knee Osteoarthritis Patients: A Comparative Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61453/INTIj.20260118Keywords:
Osteoarthritis, Kinesiophobia, Deep breathing technique, Yoga posesAbstract
Knee osteoarthritis is commonly associated with pain, stiffness, functional limitations, and kinesiophobia, which can adversely affect rehabilitation outcomes by limiting patient participation in movement. Kinesiophobia, characterized by an excessive and irrational fear of physical activity, often leads to avoidance behaviors and delayed recovery. Although interventions such as yoga and deep breathing techniques are known to enhance physical and psychological well-being, their comparative effectiveness in reducing kinesiophobia in individuals with knee osteoarthritis remains uncertain. Therefore, this comparative study aimed to evaluate the effects of selected yoga asanas and deep breathing techniques on kinesiophobia, pain intensity, and pain perception when combined with conventional physiotherapy. A total of 40 participants aged 40–60 years with diagnosed knee osteoarthritis and kinesiophobia were randomly allocated into two groups. The control group received conventional physiotherapy along with selected yoga asanas, while the experimental group received conventional physiotherapy combined with deep breathing techniques. Both interventions were administered five days per week for a duration of six weeks. Outcome measures included the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-2 (SF-MPQ-2), assessed at baseline and after the intervention period. The findings demonstrated that both groups showed improvement in all measured outcomes following the intervention; however, a between-group analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in kinesiophobia (p = 0.589), pain intensity, or pain perception scores. These results indicate that both selected yoga asanas and deep breathing techniques are effective when used alongside conventional physiotherapy, with neither intervention demonstrating superiority nor the other in reducing kinesiophobia among individuals with knee osteoarthritis.
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