Fear-Avoidance Beliefs and Their Influence on Pain Intensity, Disability and Quality of Life Among Adults with Chronic Neck Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study

This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between fear-avoidance beliefs (FAB), pain intensity, disability, and quality of life among adults with chronic neck pain (CNP). FAB—beliefs that physical activity will worsen pain are known to exacerbate disability in musculoskeletal disorders but remain underexplored in CNP, especially in South Asian populations. The study will recruit 180 adults aged 25–65 years with CNP from Department of Physiotherapy, Galgotias University. Standardized tools, including the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ), will assess pain, disability, and psychosocial factors. Sociodemographic variables, physical activity levels, and symptom duration will also be analyzed. Data will undergo correlation and regression analyses to identify predictors of pain and disability. Findings aim to clarify FAB’s role in CNP, inform psychosocial interventions, and guide culturally relevant rehabilitation strategies, potentially incorporating graded activity, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and education to improve functional outcomes and reduce chronic disability.