Multimodal Assessment of Pain-Related Behavioral and Biopsychological Changes in the Context of Back Pain Induction

Heuler A, Oeler C, Richer R, Rohleder N, Barke A, Weise C (2026)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Conference contribution, Abstract of a poster

Publication year: 2026

Event location: Universität Heidelberg DE

Abstract

Background and aims. Kinesiophobia and fear-avoidance are key factors in chronic primary low back pain, yet underlying mechanisms remain unclear due to ambiguous findings. We developed an integrative paradigm combining self-report and technology-based measures to experimentally induce pain-related responses in pain-free individuals. We hypothesize that a low back pain simulator would elicit pain experiences, movement alterations, and stress responses to research underlying mechanisms in chronic primary low back pain.

Methods. Twenty pain-free participants performed six standardized movement tasks with and without a low back pain simulator (randomized order). Pain measures included Visual Analogue Scales assessing intensity, impairment, and emotional distress. Wearable motion capture was used to compute lumbar range of motion. Stress responses were assessed via questionnaire (SSSQ-G) and salivary biomarkers (cortisol, alpha-amylase). Kinesiophobia was measured using the TSK-G.

Results. Participants reported significantly higher pain intensity, impairment, and distress in the pain condition (all p < .001). Lumbar range of motion decreased significantly during pain induction compared to the control condition (p < .05). rmANOVA revealed a significant condition×timepoint interaction for self-reported stress (p = .010): stress decreased in the control condition (p = .002) but remained elevated during pain induction, resulting in significant post-task differences (p = .004). Mixed ANOVAs revealed no significant effects of time or condition order on salivary cortisol or alpha-amylase levels (all p > .05).

Discussion. This paradigm successfully evokes pain experiences, movement alterations, and self-reported stress in pain-free individuals, offering a controlled experimental model for investigating fear-avoidance mechanisms without confounding chronic pain comorbidities.

Authors with CRIS profile

Annika Heuler Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Behavioral Health Technology Carolin Oeler Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Behavioral Health Technology Robert Richer Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab Nicolas Rohleder Lehrstuhl für Gesundheitspsychologie Cornelia Weise Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Behavioral Health Technology

Additional Organisation(s)

Sonderforschungsbereich 1483/1 - Empathokinästhetische Sensorik - Sensortechniken und Datenanalyseverfahren zur empathokinästhetischen Modellbildung und Zustandsbestimmung (SFB EmpkinS)

Related research project(s)

InterFEARence – Assessing feared movements in people with chronic back pain with EmpkinS sensor technology (SFB 1483 - D07) Empatho-Kinaesthetic Sensor Technology (SFB 1483 EmpkinS) Oct. 1, 2024 - July 31, 2027

Involved external institutions

Universität Duisburg-Essen (UDE) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Heuler, A., Oeler, C., Richer, R., Rohleder, N., Barke, A., & Weise, C. (2026). Multimodal Assessment of Pain-Related Behavioral and Biopsychological Changes in the Context of Back Pain Induction. Poster presentation at Psychologie und Gehirn (PuG) 2026, Universität Heidelberg, DE.

MLA:

Heuler, Annika, et al. "Multimodal Assessment of Pain-Related Behavioral and Biopsychological Changes in the Context of Back Pain Induction." Presented at Psychologie und Gehirn (PuG) 2026, Universität Heidelberg 2026.

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