Thoughts on Pain, Physical Activity, and Body in Patients With Recurrent Low Back Pain and Fear: An Interview Study

Maria André; Mari Lundberg

doi:10.1093/ptj/pzab275

Thoughts on Pain, Physical Activity, and Body in Patients With Recurrent Low Back Pain and Fear: An Interview Study

Maria André, Mari Lundberg

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore thoughts and ideas about the body and pain in patients with nonspecific low back pain (LBP) who have a high degree of fear of movement.

METHODS: Patients with nonspecific LBP and a high degree of fear of movement, as measured using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, were asked to participate in the study. Individual semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 participants. The material was analyzed using content analysis with an inductive approach.

RESULTS: From these patients' stories, an overarching theme-decreased confidence in the body becomes a barrier to living life to the fullest-emerged. This theme was further divided into 4 subthemes: (1) "What is wrong with my body?"-the constant search for an explanation; (2) searching for the right way to move; (3) loss of mobility means a lack of meaning in life; and (4) the message from health care professionals guides feelings, thoughts, and movement behavior.

CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the message of keeping physically active when experiencing LBP has succeeded, but patients with fear require support to feel secure and have enough confidence in their body to move and exercise. Clinicians need to better incorporate evidence-based practice for patients with fear and support them so that they can apply an understanding of pain to their bodies and their every day life.

IMPACT: These results offer guidance for health care professionals to enhance their practice by providing more updated information to their patients who have recurrent LBP and fear. With better support, patients may be able to regain confidence in their bodies and live their lives to the fullest.

LAY SUMMARY: If you have recurrent LBP and fear of moving your body, ask your health care professional to provide you with updated knowledge on pain and to help you regain confidence in your body so that you can live your life to the fullest.

Original language	English
Article number	pzab275
Journal	Physical Therapy
Volume	102
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzab275
Publication status	Published - 1 Feb 2022

Keywords

Adult
Aged
Avoidance Learning
Behavior Rating Scale
Body Image/psychology
Exercise/psychology
Fear/psychology
Female
Humans
Low Back Pain/psychology
Male
Middle Aged
Movement
Phobic Disorders/etiology
Qualitative Research
Recurrence
Self Concept

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10.1093/ptj/pzab275

Cite this

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title = "Thoughts on Pain, Physical Activity, and Body in Patients With Recurrent Low Back Pain and Fear: An Interview Study",

abstract = "OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore thoughts and ideas about the body and pain in patients with nonspecific low back pain (LBP) who have a high degree of fear of movement.METHODS: Patients with nonspecific LBP and a high degree of fear of movement, as measured using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, were asked to participate in the study. Individual semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 participants. The material was analyzed using content analysis with an inductive approach.RESULTS: From these patients' stories, an overarching theme-decreased confidence in the body becomes a barrier to living life to the fullest-emerged. This theme was further divided into 4 subthemes: (1) {"}What is wrong with my body?{"}-the constant search for an explanation; (2) searching for the right way to move; (3) loss of mobility means a lack of meaning in life; and (4) the message from health care professionals guides feelings, thoughts, and movement behavior.CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the message of keeping physically active when experiencing LBP has succeeded, but patients with fear require support to feel secure and have enough confidence in their body to move and exercise. Clinicians need to better incorporate evidence-based practice for patients with fear and support them so that they can apply an understanding of pain to their bodies and their every day life.IMPACT: These results offer guidance for health care professionals to enhance their practice by providing more updated information to their patients who have recurrent LBP and fear. With better support, patients may be able to regain confidence in their bodies and live their lives to the fullest.LAY SUMMARY: If you have recurrent LBP and fear of moving your body, ask your health care professional to provide you with updated knowledge on pain and to help you regain confidence in your body so that you can live your life to the fullest.",

keywords = "Adult, Aged, Avoidance Learning, Behavior Rating Scale, Body Image/psychology, Exercise/psychology, Fear/psychology, Female, Humans, Low Back Pain/psychology, Male, Middle Aged, Movement, Phobic Disorders/etiology, Qualitative Research, Recurrence, Self Concept",

author = "Maria Andr{\'e} and Mari Lundberg",

note = "{\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Physical Therapy Association. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: [email protected].",

year = "2022",

month = feb,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1093/ptj/pzab275",

language = "English",

volume = "102",

journal = "Physical Therapy",

issn = "0031-9023",

publisher = "American Physical Therapy Association",

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AU - Lundberg, Mari

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N2 - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore thoughts and ideas about the body and pain in patients with nonspecific low back pain (LBP) who have a high degree of fear of movement.METHODS: Patients with nonspecific LBP and a high degree of fear of movement, as measured using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, were asked to participate in the study. Individual semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 participants. The material was analyzed using content analysis with an inductive approach.RESULTS: From these patients' stories, an overarching theme-decreased confidence in the body becomes a barrier to living life to the fullest-emerged. This theme was further divided into 4 subthemes: (1) "What is wrong with my body?"-the constant search for an explanation; (2) searching for the right way to move; (3) loss of mobility means a lack of meaning in life; and (4) the message from health care professionals guides feelings, thoughts, and movement behavior.CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the message of keeping physically active when experiencing LBP has succeeded, but patients with fear require support to feel secure and have enough confidence in their body to move and exercise. Clinicians need to better incorporate evidence-based practice for patients with fear and support them so that they can apply an understanding of pain to their bodies and their every day life.IMPACT: These results offer guidance for health care professionals to enhance their practice by providing more updated information to their patients who have recurrent LBP and fear. With better support, patients may be able to regain confidence in their bodies and live their lives to the fullest.LAY SUMMARY: If you have recurrent LBP and fear of moving your body, ask your health care professional to provide you with updated knowledge on pain and to help you regain confidence in your body so that you can live your life to the fullest.

AB - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore thoughts and ideas about the body and pain in patients with nonspecific low back pain (LBP) who have a high degree of fear of movement.METHODS: Patients with nonspecific LBP and a high degree of fear of movement, as measured using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, were asked to participate in the study. Individual semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 participants. The material was analyzed using content analysis with an inductive approach.RESULTS: From these patients' stories, an overarching theme-decreased confidence in the body becomes a barrier to living life to the fullest-emerged. This theme was further divided into 4 subthemes: (1) "What is wrong with my body?"-the constant search for an explanation; (2) searching for the right way to move; (3) loss of mobility means a lack of meaning in life; and (4) the message from health care professionals guides feelings, thoughts, and movement behavior.CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the message of keeping physically active when experiencing LBP has succeeded, but patients with fear require support to feel secure and have enough confidence in their body to move and exercise. Clinicians need to better incorporate evidence-based practice for patients with fear and support them so that they can apply an understanding of pain to their bodies and their every day life.IMPACT: These results offer guidance for health care professionals to enhance their practice by providing more updated information to their patients who have recurrent LBP and fear. With better support, patients may be able to regain confidence in their bodies and live their lives to the fullest.LAY SUMMARY: If you have recurrent LBP and fear of moving your body, ask your health care professional to provide you with updated knowledge on pain and to help you regain confidence in your body so that you can live your life to the fullest.

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KW - Humans

KW - Low Back Pain/psychology

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Movement

KW - Phobic Disorders/etiology

KW - Qualitative Research

KW - Recurrence

KW - Self Concept

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U2 - 10.1093/ptj/pzab275

DO - 10.1093/ptj/pzab275

M3 - Article

C2 - 35188967

VL - 102

JO - Physical Therapy

JF - Physical Therapy

SN - 0031-9023

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ER -

Thoughts on Pain, Physical Activity, and Body in Patients With Recurrent Low Back Pain and Fear: An Interview Study

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Keywords

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