Fear‐avoidance beliefs: A predictor for postpartum lumbopelvic pain

OBJECTIVE To evaluate potential prognostic factors of self-reported lumbopelvic pain 6 months postpartum for pregnant women with and without lumbopelvic pain. METHODS Questionnaires were answered at gestational weeks 34-37 and again at 6 months postpartum. Psychosocial determinants and lumbopelvic pain symptoms were investigated using a visual analogue scale to assess pain intensity, and further using the Disability Rating Index, the Nottingham Health Profile, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale and the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the data. RESULTS Of the 260 women who answered the questionnaires on both occasions, 186 did not suffer from lumbopelvic pain 6 months after pregnancy. The remaining 74 did. The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that fear-avoidance beliefs was a significant predictor of lumbopelvic pain 6 months postpartum, with an odds ratio of 1.060 (p ≤ .05). CONCLUSION Women with high fear-avoidance beliefs at 34-37 weeks of gestation had a higher risk of having lumbopelvic pain at 6 months postpartum. We theorize that early lumbopelvic pain intervention postpartum may be important in avoiding chronicity. Women at risk can be identified through clinically relevant questions which may help the clinician to choose appropriate rehabilitation strategies.