Those with backaches fear pain

ATHENS, Ohio, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Those who fear aggravating a backache will change the way they move to prevent more pain, but this sets the stage for further injury, warn U.S. researchers.

Ohio University researchers Jim Thomas and Christopher France examined 36 adults who recently had experienced lower back pain and split them into two groups: One that confessed a high fear of aggravating the backache and another that was less afraid of re-injury.

The researchers asked the participants to perform a series of three reaching tasks designed to simulate everyday activities, such as bending to open a mailbox or leaning to ring a doorbell, while sensors attached to the study subjects recorded their muscle movements.

The study, published in the journal Spine, found people with a high fear of back pain will twist, bend and make other unusual moves to try to avoid more pain and this might put themselves at risk for more injury.