Psychology Commons^™

Factors Contributing To Disability In A Chronic Low Back Pain Population: A Comprehensive Analysis Using Continuous Ambulatory Monitoring, Kevin N. Alschuler

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Disability in chronic low back pain patients has been established as a function of variables across three areas: pain, cognitive-behavioral variables, and social variables. New technology has improved the ability to accurately measure physical activity, a significant component of disability, through the use of actigraphy for real-time ambulatory monitoring. The current study assessed between and within patient changes in physical activity as a function of current pain, anticipated pain, pain sensitivity, depression, pain anxiety, catastrophizing, and significant others' responses. Time-series and ordinary least squares regression analyses of 20 participants revealed that patients change their physical activity based on both their …