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

ABSTRACT Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain syndrome that affects brain structure and function such as motor imagery. However it is not known whether CRPS patients have a subjective MI deficit. In this single-center observational study, 123 patients were recruited (CRPS = 40, chronic limb pain, CLP = 40 and healthy individuals = 43). 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. MIQ-RS total 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 moderate evidence that CRPS patients had the same MI abilities as healthy individuals for the KMI scores (BF 01 > 3), and that CLP patients had the same subjective MI abilities as healthy participants for all scores. This approach allowed us to conclude that CRPS patients are probably not deficient in their MI abilities despite a possible lack of power, however motor imagery training appears to be effective in rehabilitation programs, but not to improve a deficit.