A developing area of research related to low back pain (LBP) is the impact of back pain beliefs (BPBs) on disability. BPBs have been found to be a significant modifiable factor which affect the bodies response and sensitivity to pain. BPBs appear to revolve around the cause of pain, future of the condition, impact of pain and the treatment of the condition. These BPBs impact on behaviour related to pain and can prolong LBP for several months or years.
BPBs have been examined in an adolescent population (as discussed here) but BPBs have not been established in a population of baby boomers (born 1946-1964). A study by members of the Pain-Ed team in Curtin University, West Australia examined BPBs in a population of baby boomers. The results suggest that negative BPBs were associated with receiving disability benefits, increased incidence of LBP in the previous month and increased interference of LBP with daily activity. In contrast those with positive BPBs were more likely to have lower scores on disability scales and reported less interference with daily activity as a result of LBP.
This study further highlights the significant impact BPBs can have on LBP and provides a potential treatment approach by which clinicians can modify people’s LBP.
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