Article

Phantom limb and complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS1) are
characterized by changes in cortical processing and organization, perceptual
disturbances, and poor response to conventional treatments. Graded motor imagery
is effective for a small subset of patients with CRPS1. OBJECTIVE: To investigate
whether graded motor imagery would reduce pain and disability for a more general
CRPS1 population and for people with phantom limb pain. METHODS: Fifty-one
patients with phantom limb pain or CRPS1 were randomly allocated to motor
imagery, consisting of 2 weeks each of limb laterality recognition, imagined
movements, and mirror movements, or to physical therapy and ongoing medical care.
RESULTS: There was a main statistical effect of treatment group, but not
diagnostic group, on pain and function. The mean (95% CI) decrease in pain
between pre- and post-treatment (100 mm visual analogue scale) was 23.4 mm (16.2
to 30.4 mm) for the motor imagery group and 10.5 mm
(1.9 to 19.2 mm) for the
control group. Improvement in function was similar and gains were maintained at
6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Motor imagery reduced pain and disability in these
patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I or phantom limb pain, but the
mechanism, or mechanisms, of the effect are not clear.

Langue : ANGLAIS