Pain-related fear is associated with avoidance of spinal motion during recovery from low back pain.
METHODS
A longitudinal assessment of the association between pain-related fear and joint motions in 36 participants with subacute low back pain.


OBJECTIVE
To determine how the psychologic construct of pain-related fear maps to motor behavior in standardized reaching tasks.


BACKGROUND
Pain-related fear is a significant predictor of avoidance behavior and occupational disability in individuals with low back pain. However, it is not currently known how pain-related fear maps to motor behavior.


METHODS
Participants with an episode of subacute LBP were tested at 3, 6, and 12 weeks following pain onset. Participants performed reaching tasks at comfortable and fast-paced movement speeds to 3 targets (high, middle, low) located in a midsagittal plane. Three-dimensional joint motions of the thoracic spine, lumbar spine, and hip were recorded using an electromagnetic tracking device. Group differences in joint excursions were assessed using 2 groups (high pain-related fear, low pain-related fear) x 3 times (3, 6, 12 weeks) x 2 movement speeds (comfortable, fast paced) x 3 target heights (high, middle, low) MANOVAs.


RESULTS
Individuals with high pain-related fear had smaller excursions of the lumbar spine for reaches to all targets at 3 and 6 weeks, but not at 12 weeks following pain onset.


CONCLUSIONS
Individuals with high pain-related fear adopt alternative movement strategies and avoid motion of the lumbar spine when performing a common reaching movement. Identifying how pain-related fear maps to actual motor behavior (i.e., alternative movement strategies) is a crucial first step in determining how pain-related fear and motor behavior interact to promote or delay recovery from acute low back pain.
Thomas
James S
JS
School of Physical Therapy, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA. thomasj5@ohiou.edu
France
Christopher R
CR
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology; D013131:Spine / Q000503:physiopathology; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000503:physiopathology