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Graded Motor Imagery Effects on Body Perception Disturbance in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome : a Randomised Controlled Trial
Sponsor: Nantes University Hospital
Summary
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating pain condition that usually develops following trauma. Patients with CRPS experience intense, continuing, disproportionate pain and multiple symptoms such as changes or asymmetry in colour, temperature or oedema, as well as stiffness, tremors or dystonia and body perception disturbances. Body perception disturbances are now recognised as part of the typical presentation of CRPS and have been shown to correlate, in particular, with pain intensity. Managing CRPS is challenging and treatment options are limited. Among these, treatments aimed at cortical reorganisation, such as Graded Motor Imagery (GMI), have shown evidence of efficacy in terms of pain and function. However, with regard to body perception disorders, the evidence is limited and emerging. Our aim is to evaluate the effects of Graded Motor Imagery on body perception disorders in patients with upper limb CRPS. Method: a randomised controlled trial comparing an intervention group - therapeutic exercises plus GMI for 6 weeks (implicit motor imagery, explicit motor imagery followed by mirror therapy) - with a control group - therapeutic exercises plus sham-GMI (non-motor mental imagery) for 6 weeks. Outcome measures: body perception disorders (Bath Scale), pain intensity (Numerical Rating Scale), quality of life (PROMIS 29), catastrophising (PCS), fear of pain, CRPS Severity Score, patient-reported global impression of change, medication use and self-efficacy. Interventions are carried out in private practice by independent physiotherapists. Assessors are blinded for the primary outcome. A qualitative component will explore the experiences and perceptions of patients and therapists regarding body perception disturbances, GMI and participation in a research project. This study aims are to improve treatment options for the management of SDRC and to improve the recognition and treatment of body perception disorders in SDRC.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
80
Start Date
2026-10-01
Completion Date
2028-07-01
Last Updated
2026-09-14
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Graded Motor Imagery + Therapeutic exercises
Functional, mobility, strengthening, and mobilization exercises, both passive and active. The exercises are designed to improve mobility and function in the affected limb. In addition to this standard treatment, the intervention group will receive care using Gradual Motor Imagery. The protocol lasts 6 weeks (3 sessions of 15 minutes per day), divided into 3 phases: implicit motor imagery, explicit motor imagery followed by mirror therapy
Sham-GMI (non-motor mental imagery) + Therapeutic exercises
Functional, mobility, strengthening, and mobilization exercises, both passive and active. The exercises are designed to improve mobility and function in the affected limb. In addition to this standard treatment, the control group will receive a non-motor mental imagery intervention (visual imagery or sham-GMI), designed not to stimulate the sensorimotor areas of the brain while resembling IMG (3 sessions of 15 minutes per day for 6 weeks).
Locations (20)
Cabinet de kinésithérapie AMBON 56190 3b route de Lauzach
Ambon, France
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, CAEN 14000 41 av. père Charles de Foucauld
Caen, France
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 85610 CUGAND 19bis rue du président auguste durand
Cugand, France
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, ERAGNY 95610 5 allée Rosa Luxemburg
Éragny, France
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, ERAGNY 95610 5 allée Rosa Luxemburg
Éragny, France
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 56520 6 place Louis le Montagner
Guidel, France
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 20220 L'ILE ROUSSE 8 Bd Pasquini
L'Île-Rousse, France
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 69008 LYON 16 rue du transvaal
Lyon, France
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 34000 Montpellier, 22, avenue du Pont Juvénal
Montpellier, France
Cabinet de kinésithérapie du Mail Pablo Picasso, 5 Rue Nina Simone,
Nantes, France
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 44100 NANTES 7 RUE DU SIMOUN
Nantes, France
cabinet de kinésithérapie, 44100 NANTES 8ter rue de la convention
Nantes, France
cabinet de kinésithérapie, NANTES 44100 2-4 route de Paris
Nantes, France
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 45100 Orléans 44 avenue de la Mouillère
Orléans, France
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, PARIS 75019 2, rue de Sadi Lecointe
Paris, France
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 44400 REZE 15 avenue Louise Michel
Rezé, France
cabinet de kinésithérapie, 44800 St Herblain Boulevard charles gautier
Saint-Herblain, France
cabinet de kinésithérapie, 03270 SAINTYORRE 10, rue de la République
Saint-Yorre, France
cabinet de kinésithérapie, 64121 Serres Castet 7 bis chemin de Liben
Serres-Castet, France
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 64121 Serres Castet 7 bis chemin de Liben
Serres-Castet, France