Original articleIs the Fear Avoidance Model Associated With the Reduced Level of Aerobic Fitness in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain?
Section snippets
Participants and Settings
This study is part of a research project on the evaluation of rehabilitation treatment in CLBP.11 In this project, 223 patients referred by their general practitioner or medical specialist between April 2002 and December 2004 agreed to participate in a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments for CLBP disability. Patients were treated in 3 rehabilitation centers in the province of Noord-Brabant in The Netherlands: rehabilitation centre Breda,
Sample Characteristics
Demographic data and complaint characteristics of the 223 participating patients and specified for men and women separately are shown in table 1. Men differed significantly from women regarding weight, LBM, length, duration of LBP, duration of LBP-associated disability, level of education, BPAQ work, hours of sports, and household activities. There were no further significant sex-related differences. Furthermore, about 70% of the patients were on partial sick leave because of LBP or were not
Discussion
Using the Åstrand submaximal bicycle test allowed estimation of the V̇o2max in 78% of the patients with CLBP, which is in agreement with our previous study.8 All patients had CLBP-associated disability and were referred for multidisciplinary treatment. Ninety-one percent of this specific sample had a lower level of aerobic fitness compared with healthy controls matched for age, sex, and level of sport activity during the preceding 6 months. Both men and women with CLBP had a significantly lower
Conclusions
Most patients with CLBP-associated disability have a lower level of aerobic fitness than healthy controls matched for age, sex, and level of sport activity in the preceding 6 months, but this is not associated with fear avoidance. To investigate further the development and impact of loss of the level of aerobic fitness, longitudinal studies should be performed in patients with acute LBP.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the rehabilitation centers Breda, Leijpark, and Blixembosch and the many people who contributed to the successful completion of this study, particularly the participating patients, the rehabilitation center contact persons, therapists, and research assistants.
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Supported by Zorgonderzoek Nederland/Medische Wetenschappen (grant no. 014-32-007).
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