Lumbar Kinematics, Functional Disability and Fear Avoidance Beliefs Among Adults with Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain

abstract: Objectives: This study aimed to examine correlations between lumbar kinematics, functional disability and fear avoidance beliefs among adults with nonspecific chronic low back pain (LBP). Methods: This crosssectional study was conducted between March and December 2014. A total of 32 adults diagnosed with nonspecific chronic LBP were recruited from outpatients attending either an orthopaedic clinic at a university hospital or a private physiotherapy clinic in Malaysia. Lumbar kinematics were measured using sensors attached at the first lumbar (L1) and second sacral (S2) vertebrae levels. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) were used to assess degree of functional disability and fear avoidance beliefs, respectively. Results: For maximum range of motion, positive correlations were observed between ODI scores and right lateral flexion and right rotation (P = 0.01 each), although there was a negative correlation with left rotation (P = 0.03). With maximum angular velocity, ODI scores were positively correlated with right and left lateral flexion L1 (P = 0.01 and <0.01, respectively) but negatively correlated with left lateral flexion L2 (P = 0.04). Regarding minimum angular velocity, ODI scores were positively correlated with left lateral flexion S2 (P <0.01) but negatively correlated with right and left lateral flexion L1 (P = 0.02 each), right rotation L1 (P = 0.02) and left rotation S2 (P = 0.01). No significant correlations were found between lumbar kinematics and FABQ scores. Conclusion: These findings suggest that certain lumbar kinematic parameters are correlated with functional disability, but not with fear avoidance beliefs.