The basic tenet of the fear-avoidance model is that catastrophic misinterpretations in response to acute pain lead to pain-related fear, which subsequently urges the escape from the painful stimuli, and to selectively attend to bodily sensations. As a result a self-perpetuating cycle develops in which subsequent avoidance of activities augment functional disability, depression and decreased physical fitness.

 Fear Reduction through Exposure in Vivo

 Muscle Pain, Fear-Avoidance Model