Citation

Trost Z, France CR, Thomas JS. Pain 2011; 152(7): 1540-1547.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1016/j.pain.2011.02.038

PMID

21419575

Abstract

The current study examined the relationship between pain-related fear, physical performance, and pain-related interference in the context of experimentally induced pain to the lower back. Thirty healthy participants completed a test of maximal trunk strength before and after induction of delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) to the trunk extensors. Pain-related fear (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia and Pain Anxiety Symptom Scale) was assessed prior to DOMS induction, and measures of current pain and pain-related interference with life activities were obtained 1day after DOMS induction. As predicted, pain-related fear was not related to strength production prior to DOMS induction. However, following DOMS induction, pain-related fear predicted reduced maximal strength production, individual decrement in maximal strength performance, and increased pain-related interference in life activities. Current pain intensity and anthropometric factors did not contribute significantly to these outcome measures. To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify the impact of pain-related fear on physical performance among a healthy group of individuals following experimental acute low back injury. The findings extend previous research on psychological variables and simulated injury, and suggest that pain-related fear may be an important vulnerability factor in development of disability following acute pain experience. Following induced delayed-onset muscle soreness to the lower back, pain-related fear predicted physical performance and interference in life activities among healthy participants, above pain intensity and anthropometric factors.

Language: en