The Relationship Between Fear Avoidance Beliefs and Low Back Pain in Firefighters

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the relationship between fear avoidance beliefs and low back pain in firefighters using patient-reported outcome measures, and to examine correlations between the Fear Avoidance Belief Questionnaire (FABQ), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). Methods: Eighty-two career firefighters from a large suburban community in the Midwest voluntarily participated in this study. Participants completed a demographic and low back pain survey, the FABQ, the ODI, and the RMDQ. Results: The analysis of the relationship between total FABQ scores and low back pain experience, current low back pain, and duration of total FABQ score included moderate (The analysis of the relationship between total FABQ scores and low back pain experience, current low back pain, and duration of total FABQ score included moderate (η = 0.356, η2 = 0.127), large (η = 0.557, η2 = 0.310), and small (η = 0.235, η2 = 0.05) effects, respectively. Strong positive correlations between the FABQ and ODI (r = 0.66, P =.001) and moderately positive correlations between the FABQ and RMDQ (r = 0.44, P =.001) were identified. Conclusions: Low back pain was found to be positively related to fear avoidance beliefs in firefighters. Low back pain experience and current history demonstrated the strongest correlation to higher scores on the FABQ. Both the ODI and RMDQ were positively correlated in the firefighter population. [[Athletic Training & Sports Health Care. 2021;13(1):18–24.]