Relationship Between Low Back Pain and Sensitization

Overview

Chronic non-specific low back pain is a common health problem that significantly affects the quality of life of individuals. Increased pain intensity leads to deficiencies in the body's sensory organization, resulting in decreased awareness. This can lead to dysfunction in body awareness, which is known as the ability of individuals to perceive the sensations and conditions of their bodies. Body awareness plays a critical role in pain management and mobility. Chronic pain causes constant stimulation in the nervous system, causing central sensitization, which is when the central nervous system becomes overly sensitive to pain signals. As a result, a decrease in the pain threshold, constant pain, and increased muscle tension occur. Increased pain intensity and decreased awareness can result in a decrease in the maintenance of optimal functions, affecting muscular endurance. Inadequate muscular endurance can increase low back pain and make it difficult for individuals to perform their daily activities. Therefore, this study aims to examine the relationship between body awareness, central sensitization, disability, and muscular endurance in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.

Body awareness plays a critical role in pain management and mobility. Individuals with high body awareness can better manage their pain, which can contribute to a decrease in disability levels. Chronic pain causes constant stimulation in the nervous system, which causes central sensitization, which is when the central nervous system becomes oversensitive to pain signals. As a result, a decrease in the pain threshold, constant pain, and increased muscle tension occur. In addition, central sensitization can cause the body to be more vulnerable to injuries due to the body being in an overstimulated state. Increased pain intensity and decreased awareness can result in a decrease in the maintenance of optimal functions, affecting muscular endurance. Inadequate muscular endurance can increase low back pain and make it difficult for individuals to perform their daily activities. The literature has attempted to emphasize the relationship between pain, disability, and body awareness in various populations. However, the relationship between body awareness and central sensitization has not been sufficiently studied. Sensitization in the body as a result of central sensitization may be associated with changes in awareness. Understanding these complex relationships is important for developing appropriate treatment strategies in the rehabilitation and clinical follow-up process. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between body awareness, central sensitization, disability and muscular endurance in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. Patients with chronic non-specific low back pain will be included in the study. Body awareness, central sensitization, pain intensity, muscular endurance and disability levels of the patients will be evaluated. The data obtained from the study will be analyzed appropriately.