The effect of kinesiophobia in older people with acute low back pain: longitudinal data from Back Complaints in the Elders (BACE)

• Autor(a) principal: Diogo Carvalho Felício
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: José Elias Filho, Daniele Sirineu Pereira, Barbara Zille de Queiroz, Amanda Aparecida Oliveira Leopoldino, Vitor Tigre Martins Rocha, Leani Souza Máximo Pereira
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Cadernos de Saúde Pública
• Texto Completo: https://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/7660
• topic: Low Back Pain; Aged; Fear

This study aimed to investigate the course of low back pain (LBP) intensity over a period of 12 months in older people with and without kinesiophobia.This was an international multicenter study. LBP intensity was examined by using the Numerical Pain Scale at baseline and over five follow-up periods. The Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire was used to measure patients’ beliefs and fears. The study included 532 older adults (non kinesiophobic = 227; kinesiophobic = 305). The individuals had moderate pain at baseline, with a significant difference observed between the groups. Participants showed a rapid improvement in the first 6 weeks, followed by minor improvements in the succeeding months. However, a significant difference between groups remained during the follow-up period. Independently, kinesiophobia is a significant prognostic factor. These findings suggest the importance of screening for psychosocial factors in the management of older patients with LBP. Practice implications: patients need to be warned that pain can be perpetuated by inappropriate avoidance behaviors that may later lead to disability.