Biopsychosocial Exploration of Pain Profiles in Inflammatory and Chronic Non-specific Axial Low Back Pain

University of Dublin, Trinity College

Status: Completed

Conditions: Back Pain; Spondylitis, Ankylosing; Low Back Pain

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02704845

UDublinTC 12

Details and patient eligibility

About

The biopsychosocial model is well established in chronic low back pain (CLBP) research. Nevertheless, researchers to date have overlooked the biopsychosocial aspects of Inflammatory Low Back pain (ILBP). Most health care providers are biologically oriented in their treatment of ILBP, neglecting its possible multidimensional nature. It is true that people with ILBP may present with more complex pain and physical limitations than those with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP), but it remains unexplored whether or not these limitations are affected by the same pain factors that affect CNSLBP patients. This study aims to explore and compare the biopsychosocial back pain profiles of adults with ILBP and CNSLBP.

Full description

This is a multicentre case-control study that will compare back pain in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and CNSLBP. A multidimensional pain assessment will be conducted for patients in both groups. Each patient will be assessed on one occasion by the same experienced physiotherapist.

Enrollment: 58 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adult between 18 and 65 years of age
• Low back pain >3 months
• On stable medication
• Ability to walk independently without an assistive device
• Specific inclusion criteria for AS group: clinical diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis by a rheumatologist
• Specific inclusion for CNSLBP group: clinical diagnosis by a physician for CLBP

Exclusion criteria

• Spinal surgery or compression fracture within the last 6 months
• Cauda equine and conus medullaris syndromes
• Severe musculoskeletal conditions affecting the upper and/or the lower limbs, such as severe inflammatory arthritis of the peripheral joints
• Severe osteoporosis
• Leg-length discrepancy
• Cancer
• Morbid obesity, or pregnancy
• Progressive neurological disease
• Psychiatric disease and/or cognitive limitations that could affect the ability to complete the study questionnaires
• Inability to read and/or understand the English language
• Severe cardiac, respiratory or neurological diseases
• Uncontrolled epilepsy
• Specific exclusion criteria for CNSLBP group: Spondyloarthropathy, or any structural abnormalities in the lumbar spine that result in serious neurological dysfunction, such as stage III-IV lumbar disc herniation, and grade III-IV spondylolisthesis

Trial design

58 participants in 2 patient groups

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Chronic non-specific low back pain