Comparison of pain, kinesiophobia and quality of life in patients with low back and neck pain

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare patients with low back and neck pain with respect to kinesiophobia, pain, and quality of life. [Subjects and Methods] Three-hundred patients with low back (mean age 43.2±11 years) and 300 with neck pain (mean age 42.8±10.2 years) were included in this study. Pain severity was evaluated by using the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, which includes a Visual Analogue Scale, quality of life by the Nottingham Health Profile, and kinesiophobia by the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia. [Results] Pain severity was similar in both groups, with a Visual Analogue Scale score of 6.7±2 in the low back pain and 6.8±2 in the neck pain group. Nottingham Health Profile pain [z=−4.132] and physical activity scores [z=−5.640] in the low back pain group were significantly higher. Kinesiophobia was also more severe in the low back pain group, with a mean 42.05±5.91 versus 39.7±6.0 Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia score [z=−4.732]. [Conclusion] Patients with low back pain developed more severe kinesiophobia, regardless of the pain severity, and had greater pain perception and lower physical activity levels. Kinesiophobia adversely affects the quality of life and requires effective management of low back pain.

A cross-sectional study of associations between kinesiophobia, pain, disability, and quality of life in patients with chronic low back pain

“…Furthermore, they had other symptoms such as high intensity of pain, low quality of pain and life, frequent use of drugs and another characteristic's. Although the correlations were weak, the results corroborate those of other studies [5,[24][25][26], supporting the hypothesis that low back pain patients show a worsening prognosis due to the fear of moving, negative thoughts, and sick leave for low back pain.…”

“…The prevalence of low back pain in the general population is reported to be up to 18%, increasing to 31% of the population reporting low back pain in the last 30 days, 38% in the last 12 months, and 39% at any point in life [2]. A prognosis of low back pain is directly related to the duration of the symptoms [3][4][5].…”

Facilitated Pronociceptive Pain Mechanisms in Radiating Back Pain Compared With Localized Back Pain

“…As a result of a painful injury, some individuals develop fear of movement or kinesiophobia, which has been defined as an excessive, irrational, and debilitating fear of physical movement [24]. In accordance with the current findings, a recent comparison of patients with low back pain and patients with neck pain showed significantly higher levels of kinesiophobia in low back pain despite comparable pain levels [46]. The influence of fear of movement is further supported by the fact that all groups except the neck pain group were above the threshold for high values of kinesiophobia [51], and by the moderately strong associations between fear of movement, pain intensity, and pain-related disability.…”

Effectiveness of yoga combined with back school program on anxiety, kinesiophobia and pain in people with non-specific chronic low back pain: a prospective randomized trial

“…This may lead to a dramatic decrease in the level of physical activities (i.e., disuse syndrome) that increases the perception of stiffness and pain of back. All these aspects can lead to a vicious circle that ends up with the QoL worsening 39 .…”