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