Thinking about movement hurts : the effect of motor imagery on pain and swelling in people with chronic arm pain

Moseley, G. Lorimer; Zalucki, Nadia; Birklein, Frank; Marinus, Johan; van Hilten, Jacobus J.; Luomajoki, Hannu

doi:10.1002/art.23580

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Thinking about movement hurts : the effect of motor imagery on pain and swelling in people with chronic arm pain
Authors:	Moseley, G. Lorimer Zalucki, Nadia Birklein, Frank Marinus, Johan van Hilten, Jacobus J. Luomajoki, Hannu
DOI:	10.1002/art.23580
Published in:	Arthritis & Rheumatology
Volume(Issue):	59
Issue:	5
Page(s):	623
Pages to:	631
Issue Date:	2008
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Wiley
ISSN:	0004-3591 1529-0131
Language:	English
Subject (DDC):	616.7: Diseases of musculoskeletal system and orthopaedics 617.5: Orthopaedic surgery
Abstract:	Objective: Chronic painful disease is associated with pain on movement, which is presumed to be caused by noxious stimulation. We investigated whether motor imagery, in the absence of movement, increases symptoms in patients with chronic arm pain. Methods: Thirty‐seven subjects performed a motor imagery task. Pain and swelling were measured before, after, and 60 minutes after the task. Electromyography findings verified no muscle activity. Patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) were compared with those with non‐CRPS pain. Secondary variables from clinical, psychophysical, and cognitive domains were related to change in symptoms using linear regression. Results: Motor imagery increased pain and swelling. For CRPS patients, pain (measured on a 100‐mm visual analog scale) increased by a mean ± SD of 5.3 ± 3.9 mm and swelling by 8% ± 5%. For non‐CRPS patients, pain increased by 1.4 ± 4.1 mm and swelling by 3% ± 4%. There were no differences between groups (P > 0.19 for both). Increased pain and swelling related positively to duration of symptoms and performance on a left/right judgment task that interrogated the body schema, autonomic response, catastrophic thoughts about pain, and fear of movement (r > 0.42, P < 0.03 for all). Conclusion: Motor imagery increased pain and swelling in patients with chronic painful disease of the arm. The effect increased in line with the duration of symptoms and seems to be modulated by autonomic arousal and beliefs about pain and movement. The results highlight the contribution of cortical mechanisms to pain on movement, which has implications for treatment.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/4858
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Health Sciences
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Gesundheit

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Moseley, G. L., Zalucki, N., Birklein, F., Marinus, J., van Hilten, J. J., & Luomajoki, H. (2008). Thinking about movement hurts : the effect of motor imagery on pain and swelling in people with chronic arm pain. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 59(5), 623–631. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.23580

Moseley, G.L. et al. (2008) ‘Thinking about movement hurts : the effect of motor imagery on pain and swelling in people with chronic arm pain’, Arthritis & Rheumatology, 59(5), pp. 623–631. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/art.23580.

G. L. Moseley, N. Zalucki, F. Birklein, J. Marinus, J. J. van Hilten, and H. Luomajoki, “Thinking about movement hurts : the effect of motor imagery on pain and swelling in people with chronic arm pain,” Arthritis & Rheumatology, vol. 59, no. 5, pp. 623–631, 2008, doi: 10.1002/art.23580.

MOSELEY, G. Lorimer, Nadia ZALUCKI, Frank BIRKLEIN, Johan MARINUS, Jacobus J. VAN HILTEN und Hannu LUOMAJOKI, 2008. Thinking about movement hurts : the effect of motor imagery on pain and swelling in people with chronic arm pain. Arthritis & Rheumatology. 2008. Bd. 59, Nr. 5, S. 623–631. DOI 10.1002/art.23580

Moseley, G. Lorimer, Nadia Zalucki, Frank Birklein, Johan Marinus, Jacobus J. van Hilten, and Hannu Luomajoki. 2008. “Thinking About Movement Hurts : The Effect of Motor Imagery on Pain and Swelling in People with Chronic Arm Pain.” Arthritis & Rheumatology 59 (5): 623–31. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.23580.

Moseley, G. Lorimer, et al. “Thinking About Movement Hurts : The Effect of Motor Imagery on Pain and Swelling in People with Chronic Arm Pain.” Arthritis & Rheumatology, vol. 59, no. 5, 2008, pp. 623–31, https://doi.org/10.1002/art.23580.