Abstract
Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) is a rare condition with huge variability in triggering factors and clinical scenarios. The complexity of the pathophysiology of this condition fosters the proposal of several therapeutic options with different mechanisms of action in both research and clinical practice. An interdisciplinary and multimodal approach, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, particularly physical therapy, is recommended by international guidelines, but the benefits and harms of available interventions are poorly known. In this scoping review, the clinical rationale for use of physical agent modalities for patients with CRPS-I will be presented. We found 10 studies addressing the role of electromagnetic field therapy, electrotherapy, and laser therapy. Our findings suggest that physical therapy modalities, in particular transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF), may contribute to reduce pain and improve function in patients with CRPS-1.
Highlights
IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
We found two papers regarding electromagnetic field therapy; eight papers regarding patients receiving electrotherapy; two papers regarding laser therapy
We found a single case report [25] describing a 10-year-old boy with Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) treated with laser therapy that did not provide any improvement of symptoms
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition consisting of localized spontaneous or evoked pain that usually affect one body extremity whose severity is disproportionate to the trigger event [1]. CRPS is a multifactorial disorder characterized by neurogenic inflammation, nociceptive sensitization, impaired vasomotor response and maladaptive neuroplasticity [2]. It affects from 5.46 to 26.2 out of 100,000 people per year [3]
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