The Impact of Osteosarcopenia on Falls, Kinesiophobia, and Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women

Osteosarcopenia (OSP) is defined as the coexistence of sarcopenia and osteoporosis/osteopenia. There is an intense and complex interaction-both mechanical (the "mechanostat" hypothesis) and biochemical (involving factors such as estrogen, testosterone, GH, IGF-1, IL-6, and osteocalcin)-between osteoporosis and sarcopenia. The general consensus is that sarcopenia leads to a reduction in bone mineral density. OSP is associated with significant physical disability, which poses a major threat to the future loss of independence. The increased propensity for falls-a consequence of sarcopenia-compounds the risk of fractures associated with osteoporosis, further exacerbating adverse health outcomes. Kinesiophobia, or the "fear of movement," is an excessive and irrational dread of performing physical movements or activities, stemming from the fear of a painful injury or the possibility of re-injury; this often leads to restrictions in activities of daily living. In a clinical setting, kinesiophobia is a critical issue that must be addressed to effectively manage a patient's disability, as it directly influences rehabilitation strategies. While there is some limited literature exploring the individual associations of osteoporosis and sarcopenia with kinesiophobia, no research has yet examined the relationship between osteosarcopenia and kinesiophobia. Our study aims to determine the impact of osteosarcopenia on kinesiophobia and quality of life in postmenopausal women.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Possessing mental and physical competence 2. Being a postmenopausal woman 3. Being independently ambulatory 4. Diagnosed with primary osteoporosis Exclusion Criteria: 1. Infection 2. Pacemaker 3. Peripheral circulatory disorder 4. Known concomitant malignancy or end-stage organ failure 5. Known concomitant central and/or peripheral nervous system disease 6. Coagulopathy 7. Difficulty walking that could affect the assessment of physical performance 8. Inflammatory arthritis 9. Metabolic bone disease 10. Secondary osteoporosis 11. Malabsorption syndromes