Understanding Kinesiophobia in Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain: An Analysis of Contributing Factors

Objective: This study aims to evaluate how kinesiophobia is related to demographics, pain intensity, functional status, and quality of life in patients with chronic mechanical low back pain. Materials and Methods: We assessed 226 participants suffering from chronic mechanical low back pain for pain intensity (using the visual analog scale), neuropathic pain (with the douleur neuropathic 4 questionnaire, DN4), functional disability [(using the Oswestry disability index (ODI)], kinesiophobia [(using the Tampa kinesiophobia scale (TKS)], and quality of life [using the short form-36 (SF-36) quality of life index]. Patients were grouped and compared based on having a high (TKS ≥37) or a low (TKS <37) kinesiophobia. Results: Most participants (69.4%) reported high levels of kinesiophobia. Mean scores: TKS=40.7±6.9; ODI=32.0±18.5; DN4=1.8±2.0. Kinesiophobia was significantly associated with female sex, activity-related pain, low education level, being a housewife, disability, and low quality of life. The multivariate model revealed that the individual SF-36 domain scores for limitations due to physical health, emotional well-being, and social function were significantly and independently correlated with distinguishing patients with high and low levels of kinesiophobia Conclusion: Sex, activity-related pain, occupation, education level, disability, and quality of life are significant factors influencing kinesiophobia in chronic mechanical low back pain patients.