Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026
Biomechanical Changes Related to Low Back Pain: An Innovative Tool for Movement Pattern Assessment and Treatment Evaluation in Rehabilitation
Published on: December 13, 2024
Fear of movement/(re)injury predicting chronic disabling low back pain: a prospective inception cohort study
Ilse E J Swinkels-Meewisse1, Jeffrey Roelofs, Erik G W Schouten
1University of Maastricht, The Netherlands. swinky@xs4all.nl
Study Design:
Prospective inception cohort study.
Objective:
To investigate prospectively whether pain-related fear predicts future perceived disability and participation in patients with acute low back pain (LBP).
Summary Of Background Data:
There are indications that fear of movement/(re)injury, as measured by the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, is present early in an episode of LBP, and that it might be a predictor of future perceived disability and participation.
Methods:
A cohort of 555 patients with acute LBP included by general practitioners and physical therapists in primary care settings was followed for 6 months.
Results:
Results indicate that baseline fear of movement/(re)injury was predictive of future perceived disability and, to a lesser extent (and together with duration and radiation), of participation.
Conclusions:
The results suggest that interventions aimed at reducing pain-related fear in the acute stage of LBP might prevent restrictions of activity and participation because of pain, and might be a way of preventing the transition from acute to chronic LBP.