Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Direct observation of pain behavior in low back pain patients during physical examination.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Keefe, FJ; Wilkins, RH; Cook, WA
Published in: Pain
September 1984

Trained observers measured the occurrence of 5 behaviors (guarding, bracing, rubbing, grimacing, and sighing) in a group of 80 low back pain patients undergoing physical examination. Bracing was frequently displayed, rubbing, guarding, and grimacing were moderately frequent and sighing was infrequent. Pain behaviors were much more likely to occur when patients were moving than when they were in a static position. The rate of guarding, bracing, and total pain behavior was predicted by physical examination findings and/or number of prior operations. Patients having longer pain histories were also more likely to show guarded movement. Topics for future research in this area are identified, and the utility of behavioral observation for clinicians is discussed.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Pain

DOI

ISSN

0304-3959

Publication Date

September 1984

Volume

20

Issue

1

Start / End Page

59 / 68

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sick Role
  • Posture
  • Physical Examination
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Facial Expression
  • Back Pain
  • Anesthesiology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Keefe, F. J., Wilkins, R. H., & Cook, W. A. (1984). Direct observation of pain behavior in low back pain patients during physical examination. Pain, 20(1), 59–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3959(84)90811-X
Keefe, Francis J., Robert H. Wilkins, and Wesley A. Cook. “Direct observation of pain behavior in low back pain patients during physical examination.Pain 20, no. 1 (September 1984): 59–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3959(84)90811-X.
Keefe FJ, Wilkins RH, Cook WA. Direct observation of pain behavior in low back pain patients during physical examination. Pain. 1984 Sep;20(1):59–68.
Keefe, Francis J., et al. “Direct observation of pain behavior in low back pain patients during physical examination.Pain, vol. 20, no. 1, Sept. 1984, pp. 59–68. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/0304-3959(84)90811-X.
Keefe FJ, Wilkins RH, Cook WA. Direct observation of pain behavior in low back pain patients during physical examination. Pain. 1984 Sep;20(1):59–68.
Journal cover image

Published In

Pain

DOI

ISSN

0304-3959

Publication Date

September 1984

Volume

20

Issue

1

Start / End Page

59 / 68

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sick Role
  • Posture
  • Physical Examination
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Facial Expression
  • Back Pain
  • Anesthesiology