Abstract
Background and aims
Patients suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) of the upper limb show a changed cortical representation of the affected hand. The lip area invades the former hand area contralateral to the affected hand. This change in cortical representation is correlated to the intensity of ongoing pain in patients with CRPS. Further studies revealed that restoration of the original representation coincides with a decrease of pain. Sensory-motor training protocols can increase and/or relocate cortical somatosensory and motor representation areas of the fingers, as shown, for example, in Braille reading individuals and professional violin players. Further, there is evidence that sensory-motor discrimination training has a beneficial effect on both the intensity of pain and the mislocalization of sensory-motor cortical areas in CRPS patients. Based on these propositions, we developed a novel sensory-motor self-training paradigm for CRPS patients to use in a home-based manner.
Methods
Ten CRPS patients performed the sensory-motor training for 2 weeks. The training consists of a braille-like haptic task with different training modes (bi-manual, speed and memory training). During the training, as well as 1 week before and after, patients were asked to fill out pain diaries. Furthermore, measures of impairment were acquired at baseline and post training.
Results
Patients showed significant pain reduction after the 2 week training period. The overall disability as well as the depression scores showed a trend to improve after the 2 week training. The reduction in pain was correlated with the total amount of training performed.
Conclusions
This is a first proof of principle study of a novel sensory-motor self-training protocol to reduce pain in CRPS patients. The more consistent the patients trained the larger the pain reduction. Sensory-motor training, which can be performed on a regular basis at home might provide a novel interventional strategy to improve symptoms of CRPS.
Implications
Although a larger study needs to be conducted to confirm our findings, including long-term follow-up, the results show, that a sensory-motor home-based training is a strategy worth exploring further for the reduction of pain as well as high frequency training for patients with CRPS.
DOI of refers to article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.02.003.
Author contributions: All authors discussed the results and commented on themanuscript.
Ethical issues: Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects according to the Declaration of Helsinki (www.wma.net/en/30publications) and withapproval from the local Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty of the University of Tuebingen.
Funding: This study was supported by Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF grant D 20.01667) and Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft (DFG grant BI195/63–1).
Conflict of interest: The authors certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.
Acknowledgments
Abd Al-Jabbar Al-Shukry, Merlin Evers, Hendrik Heinzl, Harrison Norman, Daniela Palme, Myriam Wurst helped with the data acquisition.
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Abbreviations
- CES-D
Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression Scale
- CRPS
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
- M1
Primary motor cortex
- PDI
Pain DisabilityIndex
- PT
Physical Therapy
- S1
Primary sensory cortex
- ST
Sensory-motor Training
- tDCS
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
- TMS
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- VAS
Visual Analogue Scale.
Appendix A. Supplementary data
Supplementary data associated with this article can be found, in the online version, at http://dx.doi.Org/10.1016/j.sjpain.2016.11.003.
© 2016 Scandinavian Association for the Study of Pain
