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Fear-avoidance beliefs as measured by the fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire: change in fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire is predictive of change in self-report of disability and pain intensity for patients with acute low back pain.

Publication ,  Journal Article
George, SZ; Fritz, JM; McNeil, DW
Published in: Clin J Pain
February 2006

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to investigate the association among measures of fear-avoidance beliefs, pain intensity, and lumbar flexion and to determine if changes in these measures were predictive of treatment outcome following physical therapy for acute low back pain. It was hypothesized that items of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire would be correlated with concurrent measures of pain intensity and lumbar flexion. In addition, it was hypothesized that changes in fear-avoidance beliefs would be predictive of changes in self-report of pain intensity and disability. STUDY DESIGN: Patients underwent a standard examination that included measures of fear-avoidance beliefs, pain intensity, lumbar flexion, and disability from low back pain. Patients were then re-examined after 4 weeks of physical therapy treatment. PATIENTS: Sixty-three patients with acute low back pain enrolled in a clinical trial of physical therapy treatment. RESULTS: Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire items were consistently correlated with lumbar flexion, but not with measures of pain intensity. Pearson correlations indicated that changes in disability were significantly associated with changes in fear-avoidance beliefs and pain intensity, but not changes in lumbar flexion. Changes in fear-avoidance beliefs explained significant amounts of variance in changes in average pain intensity while controlling for changes in lumbar flexion. Changes in fear-avoidance beliefs explained significant amounts of variance in changes in disability while controlling for changes in average pain intensity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that fear-avoidance beliefs have a similar association with pain intensity, physical impairment, and disability for patients with acute and chronic low back pain. This study provides preliminary support for the use of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire as an outcome measure for patients with acute low back pain.

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Published In

Clin J Pain

DOI

ISSN

0749-8047

Publication Date

February 2006

Volume

22

Issue

2

Start / End Page

197 / 203

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pain Measurement
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Low Back Pain
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Fear
  • Disability Evaluation
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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George, Steven Z., Julie M. Fritz, and Daniel W. McNeil. “Fear-avoidance beliefs as measured by the fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire: change in fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire is predictive of change in self-report of disability and pain intensity for patients with acute low back pain.Clin J Pain 22, no. 2 (February 2006): 197–203. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ajp.0000148627.92498.54.

Published In

Clin J Pain

DOI

ISSN

0749-8047

Publication Date

February 2006

Volume

22

Issue

2

Start / End Page

197 / 203

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pain Measurement
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Low Back Pain
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Fear
  • Disability Evaluation