The fear-avoidance model of pain

1. Fear and avoidance of pain The large individual variations in response to a similar nociceptive stimulus and the development of persistent pain after an acute pain episode have puzzled researchers and clinicians alike. Pain is a biologically relevant and vital signal of bodily threat, urging protective behaviors, which include increased arousal, prioritization of attention to the sources of pain, instant withdrawal, facial expression, and avoidance. The Fear-Avoidance model (Figure 1) has been introduced as a theoretical model to guide pain research and management, describing the cascade of events after pain that is perceived as threatening.8,12 2. Acquisition and generalization Fear is the anticipatory…

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