ArticleArchives of gerontology and geriatrics
Is pain catastrophizing associated with poor mobility performance and falls in older adults?
Article in Archives of gerontology and geriatrics. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.
- Trial
- Effects of Individual Psychological Factors and Cumulative Psychological Distress on Prospective Pain Quality in Older Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain.The Clinical journal of pain · 2025Article
- Predictive Validity of Multifactorial Injury Risk Models and Associated Clinical Measures in the U.S. Population.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Avoidance-Endurance Model in Older Black Men with Low Back Pain: Exploring Relationships.Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities · 2023Article
- Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPain catastrophizing has been associated with pain intensity and mobility limitations in adults, and may be associated with mobility problems among older adults with chronic pain. This study examined the associations between pain catastrophizing and pain characteristics, and physical performance in older people.
methodsThe MOBILIZE Boston Study II (MBS) included 354 adults aged ≥70 years, living in the Boston area, originally enrolled in the MBS I from 2005-2008. Pain catastrophizing was measured using the 13-item Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), with scores ranging from 13-65. Pain severity and pain interference were assessed by subscales of the Brief Pain Inventory. Pain distribution was classified as none, single site, and multisite. Mobility performance was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Falls were assessed prospectively using monthly fall calendar postcards.
resultsOne-fourth of all participants (24 %) had high scores on the PCS (score>30). PCS was inversely associated with age and was greater among those with osteoarthritis, depression, or anxiety (p-value<0.05). PCS score was associated with global measures of pain including pain severity (p-value = 0.01), pain interference (p-value = 0.004) and multisite pain compared to no pain (p-value = 0.006). After adjusting for confounders, PCS was not associated with mobility and fall in this older population.
conclusionAlthough pain catastrophizing is prevalent in older adults with chronic pain, it was not associated with mobility or falls in older people. Further research is needed to determine possible long-term effects of pain catastrophizing on chronic pain and functioning in older adults.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.