A prospective study predicting the outcome of chronic low back pain and physical therapy: the role of fear-avoidance beliefs and extraspinal pain.
To identify the prognostic factors for conventional physical therapy in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).



Prospective observational study.



One hundred thirteen patients with CLBP selected at the Spinal Disease Outpatient Clinic.



Pain intensity was scored using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and function was measured using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ).



The Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire work subscale results (FABQ-work; odds ratio [OR]=0.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.13-0.56, p<0.001) and extraspinal pain (OR=0.35, 95% CI 0.17-0.74, p=0.006) were independently associated with a decreased response to conventional physical therapy for CLBP.



We identified high FABQ-work and extraspinal pain scores as key determinants of a worse response to physical therapy among CLBP patients, supporting the need for a special rehabilitation program for this subgroup.
Serviço de Reumatologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Aloma S A
AS
Feitosa
Serviço de Reumatologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Jaqueline Barros
JB
Lopes
Serviço de Reumatologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Eloisa
E
Bonfa
Serviço de Reumatologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: ariradu@einstein.br.
Ari S R
AS
Halpern
D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
Chronic low back pain; Crenças de evitação e medo; Dor extraespinal; Extraspinal pain; Fear-avoidance beliefs; Lombalgia crônica; Resposta terapêutica; Therapeutic response