The association between pain-related psychological variables and postural control in low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Alterations in postural control have been found in individuals with low back pain (LBP), particularly during challenging postural tasks. Moreover, higher levels of negative pain-related psychological variables are associated with increased trunk muscle activity, reduced spinal movement, and worse maximal physical performance in individuals with LBP.

Research question: Are pain-related psychological variables associated with postural control during static bipedal standing tasks in individuals with LBP?

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Pubmed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO were searched until March 2023. Studies were included if they evaluated postural control during static bipedal standing in individuals with LBP by measuring center of pressure (CoP) variables and reported at least one pain-related psychological variable. Correlation coefficients between pain-related psychological variables and CoP variables were extracted. Study quality was assessed with the “Quality In Prognosis Studies” tool (QUIPS). Random-effect models were used to calculate pooled correlation coefficients for different postural tasks. Sub-analyses were performed for positional or dynamic CoP variables. Certainty of evidence was assessed with an adjusted “Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations” tool (GRADE). The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021241739).

Results: Sixteen studies (n= 723 participants) were included. Pain-related fear (16 studies) and pain catastrophizing (three studies) were the only reported pain-related psychological variables. Both pain-related fear (-0.04 < pooled r < 0.14) and pain catastrophizing (0.28 < pooled r < 0.29) were weakly associated with CoP variables during different postural tasks. For all associations, the certainty of evidence was very low.

Significance: Pain-related fear and pain catastrophizing are only weakly associated with postural control during static bipedal standing in individuals with LBP, regardless of postural task difficulty. Certainty of evidence is very low thus it is conceivable that future studies accounting for current study limitations might reveal different findings.