Association of Fear-avoidance Belief with Dynamic Balance, Functional Performance, and Disability in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Context: Chronic low back pain is a common musculoskeletal condition in the community. According to fear-avoidance beliefs model, the anticipation of increased pain or reinjury further evokes the avoidance behavior causing disability. Aim: The study aimed to correlate fear-avoidance beliefs with dynamic balance, functional performance, and disability in chronic low back pain patients. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 75 chronic low back pain patients in a tertiary care hospital. Subjects and Methods: Pain, fear-avoidance beliefs, dynamic balance, and disability were assessed in chronic low back pain patients. Pain was evaluated using the numerical pain rating scale, fear avoidance using the fear-avoidance belief questionnaire (FABQ), disability using the Roland–Morris disability questionnaire, dynamic balance using the MiniBest test, and functional performance using the Back Performance Scale. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical measures such as median and interquartile ranges were calculated. The Spearman’s correlation test was used. Results: There was a low correlation between FABQ and pain (r = 0.431, P = 0.000), dynamic balance (r = −0.425, P = 0.000), and functional performance (r = 0.482, P = 0.000) and moderate positive correlation with disability (r s = 0.538, P = 0.000) in chronic low back pain patients. Conclusions: Fear-avoidance beliefs are significantly associated with pain, dynamic balance, functional performance, and disability in chronic low back pain patients.