Objective: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to analyze the relationship between symptoms of central sensitization (CS) and important cognitive behavioral and psychosocial factors in a sample of patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.

Methods: Participants with chronic nonspecific low back pain for at least 3 months were included in the study. They completed several questionnaires and a functional test. Pearson’s correlation was used to analyze associations between symptoms of CS and pain behavior, functioning, pain, pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and illness perceptions. Additionally, a between-group analysis was performed to compare patients with and without clinically relevant symptoms of CS.

Results: Data from 38 participants were analyzed. Significant associations were found between symptoms of CS and all other outcomes, especially current pain (r = 0.510, P = .001), mean pain during the past 7 days (r = 0.505, P = .001), and pain catastrophizing (r = 0.518, P = .001). Patients with clinically relevant symptoms of CS scored significantly worse on all outcomes compared with persons without relevant symptoms of CS, except on functioning (P = .128).

Conclusions: Symptoms of CS were significantly associated with psychosocial and cognitive behavioral factors. Patients exhibiting a clinically relevant degree of symptoms of CS scored significantly worse on most outcomes, compared with the subgroup of the sample with fewer symptoms of CS.

Author keywords: Low Back Pain; Central Nervous System Sensitization; Catastrophizing; Illness Behavior

Author affiliations: EH, KI, AP, MDK: Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy (KIMA). Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy (Belgium / Brussels); EHL, YG: Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy. Department of Public Health (GEWE) ; DVD: Private Practice (Belgium / Schelle); YG: Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Faculty of Medicine & Pharmacy. Center for Neurosciences; YG: Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics; NR: Universiteit Antwerpen. Faculty of Medicine (Belgium / Wilrijk); MM: Universiteit Antwerpen. Faculty of Medicine & Pharmacy. Center for Neurosciences; MM: Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel. Department of Neurosurgery; MM, MDK: Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy. Department of Manual Therapy (MANU); LG: Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel. Department of Neurosurgery

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