How fear of movement perpetuates pain cycles

If you live with chronic pain, you’ve probably noticed how certain movements can make you tense up - not just physically, but mentally.

You may worry that bending, lifting, or twisting will make the pain worse. Over time, that fear of movement can take on a life of its own, keeping you stuck in a cycle of pain, avoidance, and frustration.

This fear that physical activity will cause injury or intensify pain is known as kinesiophobia. While it begins as a natural protective instinct, it often becomes counterproductive, reinforcing pain instead of preventing it.