The importance of fear, beliefs, catastrophizing and kinesiophobia in chronic low back pain rehabilitation.

AIM

To evaluate fear, beliefs, catastrophizing and kinesiophobia in chronic low back pain patients about to begin a training programme in a rehabilitation centre.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fifty chronic low back pain patients (including both males and females) were assessed in our physical medicine department. We used validated French-language scales to score the patients' pain-related disability, quality of life and psychosocial factors.

RESULTS

Seventy percent of the patients had a major functional disability (i.e., a Roland-Morris Scale score over 12) and nearly 73% reported an altered quality of life (the daily living score in the Dallas Pain Questionnaire). Pain correlated with functional impairment and depression but not with catastrophizing or kinesiophobia. Disability was correlated with catastrophizing and kinesiophobia.

CONCLUSION

Psychosocial factors are strongly associated with disability and altered quality of life in chronic low back pain patients. Future rehabilitation programs could optimizing patient management by taking these factors into account.