Kinesiophobia in Primary Caregivers of Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: A Scoping Review

© 2026 by the Authors. Licensee Whioce Publishing, Singapore. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )

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Abstract

Objective: To conduct a scoping review of kinesiophobia among primary caregivers of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: Following a scoping review methodological framework, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, CNKI, SinoMed, Wanfang, and VIP were searched from inception to 30 June 2025. Relevant studies on kinesiophobia in primary caregivers of CHF patients were identified, summarized, and analyzed. Results: A total of 24 studies were included. Caregivers generally showed insufficient exercise-related knowledge, particularly regarding appropriate exercise intensity and risk recognition. At the cognitive–affective level, caregivers exhibited a pronounced “substitutive” kinesiophobia, characterized by excessive worry about potential adverse events induced by patients’ physical activity. At the behavioral level, this was reflected in restricting patients’ activities and avoiding assisting with exercise, which in turn reduced patients’ adherence to cardiac rehabilitation. Conclusion: Kinesiophobia among primary caregivers of CHF patients arises mainly from cognitive deficits and protective psychological mechanisms. Individualized education and professional guidance are needed to enhance caregivers’ exercise management competence and thereby optimize patients’ rehabilitation outcomes.

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