Comparison of subjective motor imagery abilities in CRPS compared to chronic limb pain and health controls: a cross sectional study

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition with extensive symptoms. Motor imagery (MI) is a common therapy in chronic pain, however it is unknown whether patients with CRPS have a subjective MI deficit. In this single-center observational study, 120 patients were recruited, comprising 40 participants each with CRPS, chronic limb pain (CLP), and healthy individuals.. In this single-center observational study, 120 patients were recruited, comprising 40 participants each with CRPS, chronic limb pain (CLP), and healthy individuals. Participants completed the Motor Imagery Questionnaire - Revised Second (MIQ-RS) once on each side to assess their subjective kinesthetic (KMI) and visual (VMI) MI abilities. The study was performed in the University Hospital of Nîmes (France). The total MIQ-RS score and KMI and VMI subscores were compared between groups and between healthy and painful sides.. There was no difference between or within groups (p>0.05; 95% CI) for all scores. Bayesian analysis suggested that CLP patients had the same MI abilities as healthy individuals and between their healthy and painful sides for the KMI score (BF01>3). This approach allowed us to conclude that if a difference exists for CRPS patients, it is very small. Motor imagery training appears to be effective in rehabilitation programs for patients with CRPS, but not in improving a deficit in the ability to perform motor imagery. Future studies should aim to assess MI abilities by a subjective or objective method in a longitudinal study and observe changes in these abilities. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This study did not receive any funding ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Ethics committee of Full Institution : French Research Commitee "Comite de Protection des Personnes Sud Mediterrannee IV" gave ethical approval for this work I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present work are contained in the manuscript