Complex Regional Pain Syndromes
Conditions
Brief summary
This study examines the prevalence of trigger points in muscles in the thorax in upper limb Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) patients, compared to healthy subjects. In addition, we will examine if adding treatment to muscles in the thoracic area (to the regular physical therapy treatment) will alleviate some of the sensitivity in the upper limb in CRPS patients.
Detailed description
This study examines the prevalence of trigger points in muscles in the thorax in upper limb Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) patients, compared to healthy subjects. The muscles that will be examined are: Subclavius, Pectoralis minor, Rhomboids, Infraspinatus and Serratus superior posterior. In addition, we will examine if adding treatment to muscles in the thoracic area (to the regular physical therapy treatment) will alleviate some of the sensitivity in the upper limb in CRPS patients.This will be examined in an A-B-A design: at first the patients will be examined. Then they will recieve conventional physiotherapy treatment for a month. After a month, they will be examined again, and then they will recieve soft tissue massage to the thoracic area for 15 minutes in addition to the conventional physiotherapy treatment. After a month of the combined treatment, the patients will be examined a third and final time.
Interventions
DIAGNOSTIC_TESTmassage
a 15 minutes thoracic massage will be added to the regular physical therapy treatment
Sponsors
Reuth Rehabilitation Hospital
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
The observation stage is a case- control study, the treatment stage is an A-B-A design.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Inclusions Criteria for cases in stage 1 and all subjects of stage 2: * Age between 18-70 * CRPS diagnosed by board certified specialist in rehabilitation or pain medicine * Constant chronic pain for ≥six months preceding the trial; * Spontaneous pain in a day of first evaluation (numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) ≥4/10) * Stimulated pain is not attributable to other causes, such as peripheral inflammation. Inclusions Criteria for controls in stage 1: * Age between 18-70 * Do not suffer from any medical issues or chronic pain
Exclusion criteria
for all subjects in stages 1 and 2: * Tumors * Participation in another interventional clinical trial. * History of major psychiatric or neurological illness (like stroke). * Rheumatoid arthritis or other major rheumatologic disorders. * Fibromyalgia or any other systemic illness. * Pregnancy.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire | 10 minutes | Questionnaire that examines upper limb function |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CRPS severity score (CSS) | 20 minutes | form filled by an MD after an interview and examination of a patient |
| skin rolling test | 1 minute | — |
| trigger point examination | 5 minutes | — |
| Goniometer | 1 minute | shoulder flexion range of motion |
| Pressure algometer | 10 minutes | pressure pain threshold |
| Allodynia in scapula, arm and forearm | 5 minutes | von Frey filaments |
| NPRS | 1 minute | Numerical Pain Rating Scale |
Countries
Israel
Outcome results
None listed