title: Pain-related fear and avoidance of physical exertion following delayed-onset muscle soreness.
abstract: The current study examined the relationship between pain-related fear, physical performance, and pain-related interference in the context of experimentally induced pain to the lower back. Thirty healthy participants completed a test of maximal trunk strength before and after induction of delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) to the trunk extensors. Pain-related fear (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia and Pain Anxiety Symptom Scale) was assessed prior to DOMS induction, and measures of current pain and pain-related interference with life activities were obtained 1 day after DOMS induction. As predicted, pain-related fear was not related to strength production prior to DOMS induction. However, following DOMS induction, pain-related fear predicted reduced maximal strength production, individual decrement in maximal strength performance, and increased pain-related interference in life activities. Current pain intensity and anthropometric factors did not contribute significantly to these outcome measures. To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify the impact of pain-related fear on physical performance among a healthy group of individuals following experimental acute low back injury. The findings extend previous research on psychological variables and simulated injury, and suggest that pain-related fear may be an important vulnerability factor in development of disability following acute pain experience.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA School of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences, Division of Physical Therapy, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Zina
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Trost
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: France
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult