Association Between Symptoms of Central Sensitization and Cognitive Behavioral Factors in People With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Cross-sectional Study

• Published in: Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics Vol. 41; no. 2; pp. 92 - 101
• Main Authors: Huysmans, Eva, Ickmans, Kelly, Van Dyck, Dries, Nijs, Jo, Gidron, Yori, Roussel, Nathalie, Polli, Andrea, Moens, Maarten, Goudman, Lisa, De Kooning, Margot
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-02-2018
• Subjects: Catastrophizing; Central Nervous System Sensitization; Illness Behavior; Low Back Pain; Central Nervous System Sensitization; Low Back Pain; Illness Behavior; Catastrophizing
• ISSN: 0161-4754; 1532-6586
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2017.08.007

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to analyze the relationship between symptoms of central sensitization (CS) and important cognitive behavioral and psychosocial factors in a sample of patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.
Participants with chronic nonspecific low back pain for at least 3 months were included in the study. They completed several questionnaires and a functional test. Pearson’s correlation was used to analyze associations between symptoms of CS and pain behavior, functioning, pain, pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and illness perceptions. Additionally, a between-group analysis was performed to compare patients with and without clinically relevant symptoms of CS.
Data from 38 participants were analyzed. Significant associations were found between symptoms of CS and all other outcomes, especially current pain (r = 0.510, P = .001), mean pain during the past 7 days (r = 0.505, P = .001), and pain catastrophizing (r = 0.518, P = .001). Patients with clinically relevant symptoms of CS scored significantly worse on all outcomes compared with persons without relevant symptoms of CS, except on functioning (P = .128).
Symptoms of CS were significantly associated with psychosocial and cognitive behavioral factors. Patients exhibiting a clinically relevant degree of symptoms of CS scored significantly worse on most outcomes, compared with the subgroup of the sample with fewer symptoms of CS.