Trajanje projekta

Vodilni partner

UP FVZ

Partnerska organizacija

• Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH)

Sodelujoči na UP Fakulteta za vede o zdravju

• prof. dr. Nejc Šarabon (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
• doc. dr. Žiga Kozinc (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
• asist. Bernarda Helbel (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
• asist. Manca Opara Zupančič (SICRIS, ResearchGate)

Opis projekta

Kinesiophobia, the fear of movement, is a major contributor to functional decline in both healthy individuals and those affected by chronic pain and knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Despite its clinical importance, kinesiophobia is assessed almost exclusively through self-report questionnaires, which cannot disentangle the complex interaction between fear-driven and pain-driven movement adaptations. In KOA, pain and fear are tightly intertwined, making it extremely difficult to determine which mobility limitations are caused by pain, which are caused by fear, and how these factors reinforce each other. Currently, no validated protocol exists for objectively identifying biomechanical markers of movement-related fear under controlled conditions.

This seed project aims to address this gap by developing and validating a Virtual Reality (VR)–based protocol that enables the controlled elicitation and measurement of fear-related movement adaptations in healthy adults. Using HTC Vive Focus 3 VR scenarios combined with motion capture (Xsens MVN Awinda) and force-plate (BTS P6000) analysis, the project will identify preliminary biomechanical signatures of “pure” fear in the absence of pain. These signatures will then be used to interpret functional performance in KOA patients completing real-life movement tasks that commonly provoke fear (e.g., step-down, weight transfer). An exploratory VR component may be included to evaluate feasibility and gain early insight into VR’s potential to reduce fear-avoidant behaviour in clinical populations. Focus groups will further contextualise both groups’ experiences.

Through multidisciplinary collaboration between VILNIUS TECH and UP, this project will provide foundational knowledge for objectively assessing kinesiophobia and inform the design of future VR-based rehabilitation strategies to identify and potentially mitigate fear of movement in clinical practice. Findings will be disseminated through high-impact scientific publications.