A prospective, qualitative investigation of pain-related fear in people with chronic low back pain

Abstract

This qualitative, prospective study explores the lived experience of pain-related fear in people with chronic non-specific low back pain. Novel insights are provided into the beliefs underlying pain-related fear, how these beliefs evolve and the pathways to fear-reduction. The Common-Sense Model is offered as a framework to understand the study findings. By incorporating a Common-Sense perspective, the Fear Avoidance Model may be extended to account for the multiple pathways into pain-related fear and fear-reduction.