Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2022 , Vol 25, Issue 2
RELATION OF FEAR-AVOIDANCE BEHAVIOURS, OBESITY, DEPRESSION, AND DISABILITY IN GERIATRIC WOMEN WITH CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN
Gül Mete CİVELEK1, Muhammed KILIÇ1
1Health Science University, Ankara City Hospital, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital, Ankara, Turkey DOI : 10.31086/tjgeri.2022.281 Introduction: Chronic low back pain is a common, disabling and challenging disorder in geriatric women. Chronic low back pain associated disability is multi-factorial. This study aimed to evaluate the relation of fear-avoidance beliefs, obesity, depression and disability in geriatric women with chronic low back pain.

Materials and Method: In this study, 66 geriatric women with chronic low back pain attending to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic were included. Demographic and clinical data including body mass index of each patient were noted. Fear-avoidance beliefs, pain intensity, presence of depression, disability due to low back pain were assessed using the Fear- Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, Rolland Morris Disability Questionnaire, respectively.

Results: In the current study, the majority of patients (84.8%) were found to have fear-avoidance beliefs. Most of the patients participating the study were overweight or obese (95.5%). 22.7% of patients were found to have moderate or definite depression. Fear- avoidance beliefs were associated with higher body mass index, depression, higher disability and vice versa, (Spearman"s rho=0.255, p=0.039; Spearman"s rho=0.386, p=0.001; Spearman"s rho= 0.448, p<0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: Fear-avoidance beliefs, obesity and depression are common in geriatric women with chronic low back pain and are associated with higher disability. To break the vicious circle between these conditions, all these factors should be considered in the evaluation and management of geriatric women with chronic low back pain. Keywords : Geriatrics; Low Back Pain; Chronic Pain; Women; Obesity; Depression