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Clinical Trials/NCT00625976
NCT00625976CompletedNot Applicable

The Effectivity of Graded Exposure in Vivo Versus Standardized Physiotherapy in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I (CRPS-I) Patients With Pain Related Fear: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Maastricht University Medical Center0 sites46 target enrollmentStarted: May 2008Last updated:
Conditions

Trial Snapshot

Phase
Not Applicable
Status
Completed
Enrollment
46
Primary Endpoint
Functional disability measured with: Radboud Skills Questionnaire (RASQ; Oerlemans, Cup et al., 2000), for upper limbs; Walking Ability Questionnaire (WAQ; Perez et al., 2002), for lower limbs

Study Overview

Brief Summary

Background:

Research on the treatment of CRPS-I, as described in the Dutch evidence based treatment guidelines (Richtlijn Complex Regional Pain Syndrome type I, 2006), mainly showed improvement at the level of pain and coping with pain. Only little improvement in functional restoration was found. Research in other pain populations such al neck- and back-pain patients has shown that pain related fear contributes to the development of functional disability. GEXP in vivo which aims on systematically reducing fear of movement, shows promising results in CRPS-I patients (de Jong et al., 2005).

Objective:

The objective of the proposed project is to compare the effectivity of GEXP in vivo with that of standardized physiotherapy in CRPS-I patients with pain related fear.

Design:

The study concerns a single blinded, single center, randomized clinical trial. The treatment will be preceded by two pre-measures. After treatment there will be one post-measurement and 3, 6 and 12 month follow-up measurements.

Population:

The study population will consist of chronic CRPS-I patients between 18 and 65, with pain related fear (PHODA-LE-score ≥ 35 and PHODA-UE-score ≥ 32).

Intervention:

The two interventions that will be compared are GEXP in vivo (de Jong et al., 2005) and standardized physiotherapy according to the protocol of Oerlemans, Oostendorp, de Boo en Goris (1999). The GEXP in vivo comprises 17 sessions of one hour, the physiotherapy treatment of 34 sessions of 30 minutes. Both treatments will be given over a period of 17 weeks.

Study Design

Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility Criteria

Ages
18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Diagnosis CRPS-I according to IASP criteria.
  • Pain related (PHODA-LE-score ≥ 35 and PHODA-UE-score ≥ 32)
  • Age between 18 and
  • Rehabilitation treatment has been indicated.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Insufficient fluency in Dutch.
  • Generalized pain syndrome.
  • Sympathectomy of the affected extremity.
  • Psychopathology
  • Involvement in a claim regarding the disease.
  • Substance abuse.
  • Symptoms on both upper or both lower extremities.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Functional disability measured with: Radboud Skills Questionnaire (RASQ; Oerlemans, Cup et al., 2000), for upper limbs; Walking Ability Questionnaire (WAQ; Perez et al., 2002), for lower limbs

Time Frame: 2 times pre treatment, one time post treatment and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up

Secondary Outcomes

  • Physical activity in daily life(2 times pre treatment, one time post treatment and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up)
  • Body function and structure(2 times pre treatment, one time post treatment and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up)
  • Fear of pain(2 times pre treatment, one time post treatment and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up)
  • Fear of movement(2 times pre treatment, one time post treatment and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up)
  • Emotional distress(2 times pre treatment, one time post treatment and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up)
  • Emotional involvement(2 times pre treatment, one time post treatment and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up)
  • Catastrophizing Scale(2 times pre treatment, one time post treatment and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up)
  • Coping with pain(2 times pre treatment, one time post treatment and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up)
  • Participation(2 times pre treatment, one time post treatment and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up)

Investigators

Sponsor Class
Other
Responsible Party
Sponsor

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