The Association of Fear Avoidance Beliefs and pain intensity with disability and parameters of Postural stability in non specific Chronic Low Back Pain

AbstractIntroduction: Fear-avoidance beliefs (FAB) are one of the important psychologic factors related to disability and work abcence. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of FAB with disability and postural stability in patients with non specific chronic low back pain (NCLBP)and impact of short specific training on FAB in patients with NCLBP.Materials and Methods: In this semi experimental study, 51 subjects with NCLBP were evaluated. Pain intensity, FAB and disability were measured using questionnaires and Postural stability was measured using force plate. Abdominal and back muscle endurance was measured respectively by sit up and surensen tests. The association of FAB and pain intensity with parameters of postural stability was analyzed using multivariate general linear modle with adjusting for age, body mass index, physical activity, back and abdominal muscle endurance and sex.Results: pain intensity and FAB (physical activity) were related to postural stability in unilateral standing (p<0.01). FAB (work) was related to disability and backmuscle endurance (p<0.01). In quiet standing FAB was not related to any parameter of postural stability.Conclusion: The exictance of association of FAB (physical activity) with center of pressure excursion and velocity in unilateral standing may help in applying a simple sterategy for evaluating patients with NSCLBP focusing on their psychosocial condition such as fear avoidance believes. Keywords: chronic low back pain, fear avoidance beliefs, postural stability