Disability and pain catastrophizing in patients with low back pain during COVID-19 pandemy

To examine disability and pain catastrophizing during COVID-19 pandemy among patients with LBP in rehabilitation practice. In this study four research tools were used: Demographic questionnaire, Visual analog scale (VAS), The Oswestry Low Back Disability Questionnaire (Fairbanks et al., 1980.), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (Sullivan et.al. 1995). The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 22.0. Totally 74 patients with LBP received rehabilitation for LBP were included in this study during Covid-19 pandemy aged from 40 to 82 years with mean age 59. During Covid-19 pandemy higher LBP intensity was reported by those individuals who were aged between 35 and 56 years old. According to Visual analogue scale mean scores in patients during Covid-19 pandemy were 40 mm which indicates mild pain. According to Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire most of LBP patients during COVID-19 pandemy had minimal disability 60% and moderate disability were 40%. Results showed statistically correlation between disability and pain intensity (p<0.01), catastrophizing (p<0.05), such as rumination and helplessness (p<0.01). The Covid-19 pandemic has strained the importance of biopsychosocial approach to pain management. The decrease of pain services jointly to home lockdown had affected chronic pain management with additional impact on patient’s psychological health. It is necessary to ensure continuity of rehabilitation during pandemy. The obtained results point out the importance of pain catastrophizing in determining disability. It is very important to use results for low back pain management model in rehabilitation practice. However, it is necessary to continue research work to identify all possible aspects of factors that influence low back pain in multidisciplinary care and cure for better target interventions.