Pregledni rad
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.64542/pc1.20.5
Evaluation of Recovery Factors in Individuals with Chronic Low Back Pain - Conceptual Paper
Marko Bodrožić
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* Dopisni autor.
Sažetak
BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain is a complex biopsychosocial condition in which psychological and social factors, alongside biological factors, play an important role in its development and persistence of chronic low back pain. Accordingly, contemporary clinical practice guidelines recommend adopting a biopsychosocial approach and assessing the flag system to identify factors that may influence the course of the condition and treatment outcomes. However, despite these recommendations, the assessment of psychosocial factors in physiotherapy practice remains limited, partly due to insufficient education and training of physiotherapists in the biopsychosocial approach.
METHODS: This conceptual paper is based on a review of the available scientific and professional literature, as well as the authors’ clinical experience, with the aim of presenting the biopsychosocial model of pain and the assessment of psychosocial factors in individuals with chronic low back pain. Clinical practice guidelines on the assessment of flags and their application in physiotherapy practice were analysed, and the findings are presented through a conceptual analysis of the available literature.
RESULTS: Analysis of clinical guidelines for the management of low back pain showed that most guidelines recommend the assessment of psychosocial factors in individuals with chronic low back pain, most commonly through the concept of yellow flags. The most frequently highlighted factors include symptoms of depression, negative beliefs about pain, and a passive role of the patient in rehabilitation. Most guidelines recommend assessing psychosocial factors at the beginning of treatment and in cases of delayed recovery, using standardized assessment tools.
CONCLUSION: Chronic low back pain is a complex condition involving interactions between physical, psychological, behavioral, and social factors; therefore, the biopsychosocial model represents the most appropriate framework for its assessment and management. Despite the clear influence of psychosocial factors on recovery outcomes, they remain insufficiently incorporated into routine clinical assessment and therapeutic decision-making. Further education of clinicians is needed to enable effective use of psychosocial assessment tools and their integration into individualized treatment decisions for individuals with chronic low back pain.
Ključne riječi
chronic low back pain; biopsychosocial model; yellow flags; psychosocial factors; physiotherapy assessment
Hrčak ID:
350471
URI
Datum izdavanja:
1.9.2026.
Posjeta: 0 *