Evaluation of patients with low back pain due to facet joint arthrosis: The relationship between pain beliefs and pain, function, and quality of life

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine the clinical and functional status of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) due to facet joint arthrosis (FJA) and to examine the relationship, if any, between pain beliefs and clinical and functional status. METHODS: This descriptive, cross-sectional study involved patients who had been diagnosed with CLBP due to mild to moderate FJA. The participants were evaluated using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS rest and activity), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Short-Form Quality of Life Index 12 version 2 (SF-12v2; PCS and MCS) and the Pain Beliefs Questionnaire (PBQ). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. RESULTS: This study involved 58 patients (28 females and 30 males) with a mean age of 52.12 +/- 4.64 years. The reported pain intensity was 1.93 +/- 1.52 at rest and 5.10 +/- 1.10 during activity, while the ODI was 24.59 +/- 6.61. The MCS was higher than the PCS, with mean scores of 43.52 +/- 5.86 and 38.97 +/- 5.01, respectively. The participants had higher scores for organic pain beliefs (3.81 +/- 0.51) than for psychological pain beliefs (3.35 +/- 0.69). A weak positive correlation was found between psychological pain beliefs and functional status (r = 0.336; p = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CLBP due to FJA experienced mild pain at rest, moderate pain during activity, and moderate functional disability. Participants with stronger psychological pain beliefs exhibited a higher level of functional disability. Addressing pain beliefs may help to improve functional outcomes.