Abstract
Background
Dysfunctional psychological pain responses, namely fear‐avoidance (FAR), including catastrophizing and helplessness, as well as endurance‐related responses (ER), including thought suppression and overactivity have been shown to be risk factors for persistent low back pain (LBP). Literature suggests that athletes may differ from non‐athletes regarding psychological responses to pain.
Objectives
This study set out to compare FAR and ER between athletes and non‐athletes with LBP. It was hypothesized that athletes would report less frequent FAR and more frequent ER, and that both FAR and ER are associated with LBP intensity and disability.
Methods
173 athletes and 93 non‐athletes cross‐sectionally reported how frequently they employ FAR and ER on the Avoidance‐Endurance Questionnaire (AEQ), as well as LBP intensity and disability on the Chronic Pain Grad Questionnaire (CPGS). MANOVA was applied to compare FAR and ER between athletes and non‐athletes. Hierarchical multiple linear regression models were used to determine the unique associations between FAR and ER with LBP intensity and disability.
Results
Athletes reported lower frequencies of behavioural avoidance than non‐athletes, but no other FAR variables differed between the groups. Frequencies of ER did not differ between athletes and non‐athletes. Regression analysis indicated substantial associations of FAR with LBP intensity, as well as of FAR and ER with disability in athletes and non‐athletes.
Conclusions
The results of the present study suggest that athletes and non‐athletes with LBP differ regarding behavioural avoidance, but overall, differences regarding pain responses are marginal. FAR and ER are both reported in athletes and non‐athletes and contribute to disability in both groups.
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from Wiley: European Journal of Pain: Table of Contents http://bit.ly/2WVedQ6
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