Kinesiophobia and associated factors among patients with chronic non-specific low back pain

Purpose This study determined the association between kinesiophobia and age, body mass index, highest educational status, self-efficacy, pain intensity, and disability in chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) patients. Predictors of kinesiophobia were also assessed. Methods This cross-sectional design utilised 224 CNSLBP patients in tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, Oswestry Disability Index, Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, and Numerical Pain Rating Scale were used to assess kinesiophobia, disability, self-efficacy, and pain intensity respectively. Spearman's correlation and multiple regression analysis determined the association between the variables of interest and the predictors of kinesiophobia, respectively. Results Most of the participants reported a high level of kinesiophobia (92%), low level of self-efficacy (68.8%), moderate pain intensity (58.0%), and moderate disability (57.1%). A significant positive weak correlation was observed between kinesiophobia and pain intensity (r = 0.138, p = 0.040). Gender, self-efficacy, pain intensity, and disability significantly predicted the extent of kinesiophobia (p < 0.05). Conclusion The increased levels of kinesiophobia are a cause for concern and highlight the need for kinesiophobia and related factors to be closely monitored and incorporated into preventive and curative rehabilitation programmes for CNSLBP patients to minimise the negative impact on rehabilitation outcomes.

Automated summary

This study investigated the association between kinesiophobia and various factors in chronic non-specific low back pain patients. High levels of kinesiophobia were observed among the participants, and it was positively correlated with pain intensity and disability. Gender, self-efficacy, pain intensity, and disability were identified as predictors of kinesiophobia. The findings highlight the importance of monitoring and incorporating kinesiophobia and related factors into rehabilitation programs for CNSLBP patients to optimize outcomes.