Pain, kinesiophobia and quality of life of low back pain patients* Dor, cinesiofobia e qualidade de vida de pacientes com dor lombar

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic low back pain is a musculoskeletal problem with high prevalence and frequent associated conditions, which causes major impact on patients’ daily life and quality of life. This study aimed at evaluating pain perception, fear of movement and adherence to treatment of patients with low back pain and surgical indication. METHODS: This is a prospective study with convenience sample made up of low back pain patients, called test group: chronic non-cancer pain patients who were randomly selected and were waiting for surgery. Control group was made up of patients screened by the Pain Clinic, with low back pain, however asymptomatic. Tools were the visual analog scale, the Morisky & Green questionnaire to check adherence to treatment and the Roland-Morris questionnaire to evaluate functional incapacity. Fear of movement was evaluated by the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia and quality of life by the Study Short form 12 Health Survey (SF-12) (Medical Outcomes). RESULTS: Mean age of the test group was 38.8±6.5 years with prevalence of females, impaired labor situation and mean education of 8.5±3.8 years. Both mental and physical components had lower quality of life scores in the test group, in addition to more severe pain, functional incapacity and fear of movement. Non-adherence to treatment was seen in 65% of test group patients. CONCLUSION: Fear of movement, functional incapacity and pain observed in test group may have implications in the quality of life of low back pain patients who will be submitted to surgery and may be predictors for the incorporation of different strategies to contribute to more effective approaches.