A prospective study predicting the outcome of chronic low back pain and physical therapy: the role of fear-avoidance beliefs and extraspinal pain

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the prognostic factors for conventional physical therapy in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: Prospective observational study. Participants: One hundred thirteen patients with CLBP selected at the Spinal Disease Outpatient Clinic. Main outcome m...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Aloma S.A. Feitosa, Jaqueline Barros Lopes, Eloisa Bonfa, Ari S.R. Halpern
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Reumatologia
Series:Revista Brasileira de Reumatologia
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Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0482-50042016000500384&lng=en&tlng=en
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Summary:ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the prognostic factors for conventional physical therapy in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: Prospective observational study. Participants: One hundred thirteen patients with CLBP selected at the Spinal Disease Outpatient Clinic. Main outcome measures: Pain intensity was scored using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and function was measured using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). Results: 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. Conclusion: 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.
ISSN:1809-4570