title: Lumbopelvic pain associated with catastrophizing and fear-avoidance beliefs in early pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine and compare levels of catastrophizing, fear-avoidance beliefs, physical ability, and health-related quality of life in women with and without lumbopelvic pain (LP and NLP) in early pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of early pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five midwife clinics, one in the center, two in the outskirts of Stockholm, and two in a medium-sized town.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and twenty-four women in the 19th-21st week of pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Pain Catastrophizing Scale of exaggerated negative thoughts about pain experiences, the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire of beliefs about how physical activity and work affect back pain, the Disability Rating Index of physical ability, and the Nottingham Health Profile to assess health-related quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two groups were defined: LP (n=141) and NLP (n=183). The Mann-Whitney U-test was used for comparisons. Pregnant women with LP had significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of exaggerated negative thoughts and fear-avoidance beliefs. They also had lower physical ability and health-related quality of life compared to women in the NLP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to consider exaggerated negative thoughts about pain experiences and fear-avoidance beliefs when treating women with LP during pregnancy and to be aware of the great impact lumbopelvic pain has on women's lives during early pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: CeFAM, Stockholm County Council, Huddinge, Sweden. christina.b.olsson@sll.se
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buer
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nilsson-Wikmar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires