The Association of Kinesiophobia and Pain Catastrophizing with Pain-Related Disability and Pain Intensity in Obesity and Chronic Lower-Back Pain.

Giorgia Varallo,Gianluca Castelnuovo,Federica Scarpina,Roberto Cattivelli,Emanuele Maria Giusti,Paolo Capodaglio

doi:10.3390/brainsci11010011

Abstract

Individuals affected by chronic lower-back pain and obesity have an increased risk of long-lasting disability. In this study, we aimed to explore the contribution of kinesiophobia and pain catastrophizing in explaining pain intensity and pain-related disability in chronic lower-back pain associated to obesity. A cross-sectional study on 106 participants with obesity and chronic lower-back pain was performed. We assessed pain intensity, pain disability, pain catastrophizing, and kinesiophobia levels through self-reporting questionnaire. Hierarchical regressions were performed to assess the role of pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia on pain intensity and pain disability. According to the results, kinesiophobia, but not pain catastrophing, significantly explained both pain intensity and pain-related disability. Kinesiophobia might play a significant role in enhancing pain-related disability and the pain intensity in individuals with chronic lower-back pain and obesity. We encourage future studies in which beliefs and cognition towards pain might be a therapeutic target in interdisciplinary pain management interventions.

Highlights

Obesity is a public health issue of increasing importance [1] with substantial personal, community, and financial burdens globally [1]
To the aim to clarify this issue, in the present cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess the role of kinesiophobia and pain catastrophizing as predictive factors for pain-related disability and pain intensity in a sample of individuals affected by both obesity and CLBP
The study aimed to verify the role of kinesiophobia and pain catastrophizing in explaining pain intensity and pain-related disability in a sample of individuals with obesity and CLBP

Summary

Introduction

Obesity is a public health issue of increasing importance [1] with substantial personal, community, and financial burdens globally [1]. It is strongly related to lower levels of physical and emotional well-being [2], and higher levels of mobility disability [3], especially when associated with other clinical conditions, including pain-related conditions [4]. Obesity is a risk factor for chronic lower-back pain (CLBP) [5], a clinical condition characterized by persistent pain (more than 3 months), in absence of a recognizable mechanical origin [6]. Obesity and CLBP share a high comorbid burden [5,7]. Affected individuals face profound functional and physical limitations [8]. They generally report a high degree of pain-related disability in daily life [9]. The relationship between obesity and pain is complex and multifactorial [10]; evidence indicates that it might involve a combination of systemic inflammation, musculoskeletal overload, and autonomic dysreglicenses/by/4.0/)

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