Influence of the type of locus of health control on the levels of disability and kinesiophobia in chronic low back pain

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:The aim of this study was to identify the existence of a relationship between the type of locus of health control and the variables associated with the occurrence of non-specific chronic low back pain (NCLBP), in addition to assessing the relationship between the level of disability in the development of functional activities and the level of kinesiophobia with the type of locus found in patients. METHODS: 40 individuals with a mean age of 54.1±7.1 years were evaluated. On a single occasion, the questionnaires Multidimensional Scale of Locus of Health Control (MSLHC), Tampa (kinesiophobia), and Roland-Morris (disability) were applied for the acquisition of qualitative variables, analyzed to identify possible relationships between these and the type of locus of health control. RESULTS:The present results showed no correlation between the type of locus and the specific individual variables genders (p<0.722), health insurance (p<0.449), education (p<0.968), monthly income (p<0.655), smoking (p<0.877), physical activity (p<0.077), and marital status (p<0.346), demonstrating homogeneity of the sample. There was no relationship between the type of locus and the degree of kinesiophobia (p<0.745). A significant relationship has been demonstrated between the locus of internal control and the level of disability (p<0.031). CONCLUSION: The type of locus of health control presented by most patients with NCLBP was the internal, related to higher levels of disability, and not associated with levels of kinesiophobia or individual variables.