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Volume 35, Issue 1, March 2024



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Mediterr J Rheumatol 2022;33(3):305-10
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The Relationship Between Fear-Avoidance Beliefs, Disability, and Physical Capacity in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain
Shaikh Nabi Bukhsh Nazir1, Feliciancus Anthony Pereira2, Atta Muhammad3, Iram Iqbal Shamsi4, Muhammad Uzair Khan5
Authors Information

1. Institute of Physical Medical & Rehabilitation, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan

2. Lecturer, Dewan Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Dewan University, Karachi, Pakistan

3. Lecturer, University Institute of Physical Therapy, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan

4. Senior Lecturer, Institute of Physical Medical & Rehabilitation, Dow University of
Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan

5. Post graduate student, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to document the multi-dimensional profile of patients referring with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and determine the relationship among fear-avoidance belief and disability and physical capacity in the Pakistani population. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at thePhysiotherapy Department of the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dow University of Health Sciences. Consecutive sampling was used among the population of CLBP, and objective measures were fear-avoidance beliefs (FABQ-total) and Roland Morris questionnaire (RMDQ) and pain. Each participant performed a physical capacity test, which included a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), abdominal muscular endurance (AME), hand grip strength (HGS), and Functional reach test (FRT). RESULT: Of the 136 participants, 70(51.5%) were males. The mean and SD of the tests performed were: 6MWT (487.97±51.46), AME (9.31±4.68), FRT (35.14±2.79), HGS (33.31±14.55), VAS (5.51±1.27), RMDQ (18.25±2.17), FABQ-total (48.18±5.31). Multivariate regression revealed that symptom duration, FRT, AME, HGS, VAS, RMDQ were all found to be associated with fear-avoidance belief, accounting for 60% (adjusted R2 = 0.60) of variability. Likewise, only 6-MWT, FRT, FABQ-total were the significant predictors of disability (adjusted R2=0.282). CONCLUSION: It has been demonstrated that sub-maximal exercise capacity, strength, endurance, pain and flexibility are the contributing factors for the change in disability and fear-avoidance beliefs among the individuals with CLBP. The findings of this study could have inference for increasing productivity both at individual and organizational levels by formulating effective strategies to manage CLBP.


Cite this article as: Nazir SNB, Pereira FA, Muhammad A, Shamsi II, Khan MU. The Relationship Between Fear-Avoidance Beliefs, Disability, and Physical Capacity in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2022;33(3):305-10.

Article Submitted: 21 Jul 2021; Article Accepted: 21 Oct 2021; Available Online: 30 Sep 2022

https://doi.org/10.31138/mjr.33.3.305

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

©Nazir SNB, Pereira FA, Muhammad A, Shamsi II, Khan MU.

Keywords: low back pain, correlation, pain, psychosocial factors, physical functional performances