Several factors were found to be associated with disability at follow-up for at least two different pain symptoms .
However , owing to insufficient studies , no generic risk factors for sick leave were identified .
Conclusions Multiple site pain , high pain severity , older age , baseline disability and longer pain duration were identified as potential prognostic factors for disability across pain sites .
There was limited evidence that anxiety and depression were associated with disability in patients with subacute pain , indicating that these factors may not play as large a role as expected in developing disability due to a pain condition .
Objective This systematic review aims to identify generic prognostic factors for disability and sick leave in subacute pain patients .
The role of fear-avoidance beliefs in acute low back pain: relationships with current and future disability and work status
& NA ; Fear‐avoidance beliefs have been identified as an important psychosocial variable in patients with chronic disability doe to low back pain . The importance of fear‐avoidance beliefs for individuals with acute low back pain has not been explored . Seventy‐eight subjects with work‐related low back pain of less than 3 weeks ' duration were studied .  Measurements of pain intensity , physical impairment , disability , nonorganic signs and symptoms , and depression were taken at the initial evaluation . Fear‐avoidance beliefs were measured with the  work and physical activity subscales of the Fear‐avoidance Beliefs Question naire .  Disability and work status were re‐assessed after 4 weeks of physical therapy . Patterns of correlation between fear‐avoidance beliefs and other concurrently‐measured variables were similar to those reported in patients with chronic low back pain . Fear‐avoidance beliefs did not explain a significant amount of the variability in initial disability levels after controlling for pain intensity and physical impairment . Fear‐avoidance beliefs about work were significant predictors of 4‐week disability and work status even after controlling for initial levels of pain intensity , physical impairment , and disability , and the type of therapy received . Fear‐avoidance beliefs are present in patients with acute low back pain , and may be an important factor in explaining the transition from acute to chronic conditions . Screening for fear‐avoidance beliefs may be useful for identifying patients at risk of prolonged disability and work absence
Several factors were found to be associated with disability at follow-up for at least two different pain symptoms .
However , owing to insufficient studies , no generic risk factors for sick leave were identified .
Conclusions Multiple site pain , high pain severity , older age , baseline disability and longer pain duration were identified as potential prognostic factors for disability across pain sites .
There was limited evidence that anxiety and depression were associated with disability in patients with subacute pain , indicating that these factors may not play as large a role as expected in developing disability due to a pain condition .
Objective This systematic review aims to identify generic prognostic factors for disability and sick leave in subacute pain patients .