Proximal myofascial dysfunction in complex regional pain syndrome: a retrospective prevalence study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of clinically evident myofascial dysfunction (MD) and its relationship to motor neglect (MN) in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

DESIGN: Retrospective chart review.

PATIENTS: Forty-one consecutively evaluated CRPS patients.

OUTCOME MEASURES: (a) Prevalence of trigger points in the proximal musculature of the CRPS limb. (b) Prevalence of MN in a subset (n = 34).

RESULTS: MD was detected in 61 % of CRPS patients. It was more prevalent in the upper limb (70%) than in the lower limb (47%). MN was more common in those who also had MD.

CONCLUSION: MD is common in CRPS patients, especially in the upper limb and in those patients with MN. Prospective trials are needed to confirm these intriguing findings, which may have important implications regarding CRPS pathophysiology and treatment.