Chronic Complex regional Pain Syndrome therapy in clinical settings

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Therapy treatment for chronic Complex Regional Pain Syndrome within a clinical setting.

• IRAS ID

  277111

• Contact name

  Louise Haynes

• Contact email

  louise.haynes@thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  The Walton Centre NHS trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 7 months, 26 days

• Research summary

  Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a painful debilitating disorder that usually occurs after limb injury, but can also occur without an injury. Symptoms include painful changes in skin sensitivity, swelling, colour changes, pronounced temperature changes, problems with initiation and control of movement and feeling disconnected with the affected limb.
  Persons with CRPS commonly suffer significant levels of disability, loss of function and distress. This can severely compromise the quality of life.
  Whilst guidelines do support physiotherapy and occupational therapy treatment for the management of CRPS, it is not clear from current research as to which particular therapy interventions are most effective. Additionally, the effectiveness of different clinical approaches is poorly reported.
  There is considered to be modest evidence to support the use of one therapy intervention Graded motor imagery. However, within a clinical setting, results for the same therapy have been found to be less favourable.
  Following the later finding, our therapy practice has changed to include a variety of interventions with the overarching aim of improving sensory and motor processing to promote better movement and function.
  The primary aim of this study is to describe typical therapy treatment delivered within the CRPS therapy clinics for patients with longstanding CRPS and establish whether the current therapy treatment within the described clinical setting is effective in improving function and meaningful activity for people with longstanding CRPS.
  Further aims are:
  • To evaluate the impact of therapy on body awareness and quality of life and pain
  • To evaluate presenting baseline symptom profiles to help determine what characteristics respond and influence response to therapy. This will enable us to tailor therapy to address the specific needs of the patient
  • To compare changes in outcomes from this patient group with 20 historical patients treated with GMI therapy alone described in a previous study to evaluate potential differences in treatment responses

• REC name

  North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  20/NW/0424

• Date of REC Opinion

  22 Oct 2020

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion