Pain, Disability, Fear -avoidance and Habitual Physical Activity in Subjects with Low Back Pain with and without Trunk and Hips Rotational Demand Sport Activities

Introduction: Many factors are related to the disability of subjects with chronic low back pain. Fear-avoidance of injury and movement are the most important risk factors to increase the disability followed by decreased physical activity in these patients. The aim of current study was to compare the level of disability and fear-avoidance between two groups of low back pain patients with and without specific sport and recreational activities. Materials and methods: Thirty nine male with non-specific chronic low back pain (15 subjects with rotational demand sport and recreational specific activities and 24 subjects without rotational trunk and hips demand sport and recreational activities) were participated in present study. Levels of disability, pain, fear-avoidance, habitual physical activity and pain intensity of all participated were measured by selected and verified Persian questionnaires. Data were analyzed by SPSS, version 17. Results: Levels of disability and fear-avoidance in group with specific sport and recreational activity were significantly lesser than group without rotational activities (p<0/05). Level of habitual physical activity in group with rotational activities was greater (p<0/05) than other group. There was no difference between groups in pain intensity (p>0/05). Conclusion: Participation in habitual and sport activities may help to decrease the level of disability in subjects with chronic low back pain by effect on the level of fear-avoidance. The presence of difference between groups of low back pain may also show a need for sub-classification of chronic low back pain in same group. Key words: nonspecific-chronic low back pain, fear-avoidance, habitual physical activity, pain intensity, functional disability.