A RELAÇÃO ENTRE LOMBALGIA INESPECÍFICA E ESTRESSE PSICOLÓGICO: IMPACTO FISIOTERAPÊUTICO

ABSTRACT Nonspecific low back pain is one of the leading causes of functional limitation, absenteeism, and reduced quality of life among economically active adults. The complexity of chronic low back pain lies in the interaction between biomechanical, emotional, and behavioral factors. This study aimed to analyze the association between the intensity of low back pain, psychological stress, and functional disability in individuals with nonspecific low back pain. A cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted with 40 adult participants. Three validated instruments were used: the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain assessment, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) for psychological stress, and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire. The results showed mean scores of 3.7 (±2.4) for VAS, 22.1 (±5.5) for PSS-10, and 8.9 (±3.6) for Roland-Morris. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between pain and stress (r = 0.42), pain and functional disability (r = 0.58), and stress and functional disability (r = 0.46), all with p < 0.05. It is concluded that low back pain, when associated with high levels of stress, increases functional limitation, demanding integrated physiotherapeutic approaches centered on the biopsychosocial model. Keywords: Low back pain; Psychological stress; Functional disability; Physiotherapy; Chronic pain.