The Fear Avoidance Model predicts short-term pain and disability following lumbar disc surgery

Faris A Alodaibi; Julie M Fritz; Anne Thackeray; Shane L Koppenhaver; Jeffrey J Hebert

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0193566

The Fear Avoidance Model predicts short-term pain and disability following lumbar disc surgery

PLoS One. 2018 Mar 5;13(3):e0193566. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193566. eCollection 2018.

Authors

Faris A Alodaibi¹, Julie M Fritz², Anne Thackeray², Shane L Koppenhaver³, Jeffrey J Hebert^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rehabilitation Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
² School of Health, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America.
³ Baylor University Doctoral Physical Therapy Program, Waco, TX, United States of America.
⁴ School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia.
⁵ Faculty of Kinesiology, University of New Brunswick, New Brunswick, Canada.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the prognostic value of the Fear Avoidance Model (FAM) variables when predicting pain intensity and disability 10-weeks postoperative following lumbar disc surgery.

Methods: We recruited patients scheduled for first-time, single level lumbar disc surgery. The following aspects of the FAM were assessed at preoperative baseline and after 10 postoperative weeks: numeric pain rating scale (0-10) for leg and back pain intensity separately, Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODI), and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Multivariate regression models were used to examine the best combination of baseline FAM variables to predict the 10-week leg pain, back pain, and disability. All multivariate models were adjusted for age and sex.

Results: 60 patients (30 females, mean [SD] age = 40.4 [9.5]) were enrolled. All FAM measures correlated with disability at baseline. Adding FAM variables to each of the stepwise multiple linear regression model explained a significant amount of the variance in disability (Adj. R2 = .38, p < .001), leg pain intensity (Adj. R2 = .25, p = .001), and back pain intensity Adj. R2 = .32, p < .001 at 10-weeks). After adjusting for age and gender, BDI and FABQ-work subscale were the only significant predictors added to each of the prediction models for the 10-week clinical outcome (leg pain, back pain, and ODI).

Conclusion: BDI and FABQ-work subscale variables are associated with baseline pain intensity and disability and predict short-term pain and disability following lumbar disc surgery. Measuring these variables in patients being considered for lumbar disc surgery may improve patient outcome.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Avoidance Learning*
Disabled Persons / psychology*
Fear / psychology*
Female
Humans
Intervertebral Disc / surgery*
Lumbar Vertebrae / surgery*
Male
Middle Aged
Models, Statistical*
Pain, Postoperative / diagnosis
Pain, Postoperative / psychology*
Prognosis
Time Factors
Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study received funding from the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. The study was also supported by the Research Centre, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Said University. The funding sources had no role in the planning, conducting, or reporting of this study.