Complex Regional Pain SyndromesBath-MinNCT07818174
Graded Motor Imagery Effects on Body Perception Disturbance in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome : a Randomised Controlled Trial
A study testing Graded Motor Imagery + Therapeutic exercises in people with Complex Regional Pain Syndromes, run by Nantes University Hospital at 20 sites in France.
Trial summary
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating pain condition that usually develops following trauma. Patients with CRPS experience intense, continuing, disproportionate pain and multiple symptoms such as changes or asymmetry in colour, temperature or oedema, as well as stiffness, tremors or dystonia and body… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Complex Regional Pain Syndromes
- What is being tested?
- Graded Motor Imagery + Therapeutic exercises
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 80 participants
- Where
- 20 sitesFrance
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2026to 1 Jul 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Over 18 years
- Upper limb unilateral CRPS (Budapest criteria)
- No prior use of GMI
Who cannot join
- Psychiatric disorders
- Not confident with written/spoken French
- Not confident with smartphone use
Trial locations and contacts
20 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
20 sites in 1 country
France20 sites
Cabinet de kinésithérapie AMBON 56190 3b route de Lauzach
Ambon, 56190
Amaury BRIDOUX, Physical therapist, 02 97 68 70 54, amaury.bridoux@gmail.com
Amaury BRIDOUX, Physical therapist
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, CAEN 14000 41 av. père Charles de Foucauld
Caen, 14000
Guillaume GALLIOU, Physical therapist, 02 31 83 48 02, guillaume.galliou@gmail.com
Guillaume GALLIOU, Physical therapist
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 85610 CUGAND 19bis rue du président auguste durand
Cugand, 85610
Victor DUPONT, Physical therapist, 02 51 42 11 92, victor.dupont@hotmail.fr
Victor DUPONT, Physical therapist
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, ERAGNY 95610 5 allée Rosa Luxemburg
Éragny, 95610
David MERCIER, Physical therapist, 01 39 09 14 73, dav_mercier@hotmail.fr
David MERCIER, Physical therapist
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, ERAGNY 95610 5 allée Rosa Luxemburg
Éragny, 95610
Audrey VIERS, Physical therapist, 01 39 09 14 73, audrey.viers@outlook.com
Audrey VIERS, Physical therapist
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 56520 6 place Louis le Montagner
Guidel, 56520
Germain PICHOT, Physical therapist, 02 97 02 92 53, pichot.germain@gmail.com
Germain PICHOT, Physical therapist
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 20220 L'ILE ROUSSE 8 Bd Pasquini
L'Île-Rousse, 20220
Florian SANTOS, Physical therapist, 04 95 60 00 41, santos_florian@hotmail.fr
FLORIAN SANTOS
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 69008 LYON 16 rue du transvaal
Lyon, 69008
Aissaoui TESSADIT, Physical therapist, 09 82 41 60 55, Tessadit.aissaoui@gmail.com
Aissaoui TESSADIT, Physical therapist
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 34000 Montpellier, 22, avenue du Pont Juvénal
Montpellier, 34000
Fabrice ERNOUL, Physical therapist, 04 67 27 75 43, 73fabrices@gmail.com
Fabrice ERNOUL, Physical therapist
Cabinet de kinésithérapie du Mail Pablo Picasso, 5 Rue Nina Simone,
Nantes, 44000
Sessi ACAPO, Doctor of Science, +33 02 51 83 11 72, sessi.acapo@gmail.com
Sessi ACAPO, Doctor of Science
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 44100 NANTES 7 RUE DU SIMOUN
Nantes, 44100
Clotilde SANDER, Physical therapist, 02 51 84 87 71, Clotilde.sander@gmail.com
Clotilde SANDER, Physical therapist
cabinet de kinésithérapie, 44100 NANTES 8ter rue de la convention
Nantes, 44100
Maeva GELU, Physical therapist, 06 98 32 97 00, maeva.gelu.mk@gmail.com
Maeva GELU, Physical therapist
cabinet de kinésithérapie, NANTES 44100 2-4 route de Paris
Nantes, 44100
Emeline LEBOEUF, Physical therapist, 02 28 16 88 47, kine.e.leboeuf@gmail.com
Emeline LEBOEUF, Physical therapist
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 45100 Orléans 44 avenue de la Mouillère
Orléans, 45100
Nolwenn POQUET, Physical therapist, 0238635472, poquet.nolwenn@gmail.com
Nolwenn POCQUET, Physical therapist
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, PARIS 75019 2, rue de Sadi Lecointe
Paris, 75019
Kader NDIAYE, Physical therapist, 06 68 51 97 52, kader.ndiaye.kine@gmail.com
Kader NDIAYE, Physical therapist
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 44400 REZE 15 avenue Louise Michel
Rezé, 44400
Damien HRYNKOW, Physical therapist, 02 40 40 80 52, damien.hrynkow@gmail.com
Damien HRYNKOW, Physical therapist
cabinet de kinésithérapie, 44800 St Herblain Boulevard charles gautier
Saint-Herblain, 44800
Léa GUILBEAU, Physical therapist, 02 51 84 87 71, lea.guilbeau@laposte.net
Léa GUILBEAU, Physical therapist
cabinet de kinésithérapie, 03270 SAINTYORRE 10, rue de la République
Saint-Yorre, 03270
Philippe DEAT, Physical therapist, 04 70 41 04 37, philippe.deat@gmx.fr
Philippe DEAT, Physical therapist
cabinet de kinésithérapie, 64121 Serres Castet 7 bis chemin de Liben
Serres-Castet, 64121
Willy ERUAM, Physical therapist, 02 40 80 00 33, Willy.eruam@hotmail.fr
Willy ERUAM, Physical therapist
Cabinet de kinésithérapie, 64121 Serres Castet 7 bis chemin de Liben
Serres-Castet, 64121
Florent JACQUEMIN, Physical therapist, 05 47 41 43 68, Jacquemin.florent@yahoo.fr
Florent JACQUEMIN, Physical therapist
About this study
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating pain condition that usually develops following trauma. Patients with CRPS experience intense, continuing, disproportionate pain and multiple symptoms such as changes or asymmetry in colour, temperature or oedema, as well as stiffness, tremors or dystonia and body perception disturbances. Body perception disturbances are now recognised as part of the typical presentation of CRPS and have been shown to correlate, in particular, with pain intensity.
Managing CRPS is challenging and treatment options are limited. Among these, treatments aimed at cortical reorganisation, such as Graded Motor Imagery (GMI), have shown evidence of efficacy in terms of pain and function. However, with regard to body perception disorders, the evidence is limited and emerging.
Read more
Our aim is to evaluate the effects of Graded Motor Imagery on body perception disorders in patients with upper limb CRPS. Method: a randomised controlled trial comparing an intervention group - therapeutic exercises plus GMI for 6 weeks (implicit motor imagery, explicit motor imagery followed by mirror therapy) - with a control group - therapeutic exercises plus sham-GMI (non-motor mental imagery) for 6 weeks.
Outcome measures: body perception disorders (Bath Scale), pain intensity (Numerical Rating Scale), quality of life (PROMIS 29), catastrophising (PCS), fear of pain, CRPS Severity Score, patient-reported global impression of change, medication use and self-efficacy. Interventions are carried out in private practice by independent physiotherapists. Assessors are blinded for the primary outcome. A qualitative component will explore the experiences and perceptions of patients and therapists regarding body perception disturbances, GMI and participation in a research project.
This study aims are to improve treatment options for the management of SDRC and to improve the recognition and treatment of body perception disorders in SDRC.
- Conditions
- Complex Regional Pain Syndromes
- Being tested
- Graded Motor Imagery + Therapeutic exercises, Sham-GMI (non-motor mental imagery) + Therapeutic exercises
- Keywords
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Primary chronic pain, Body perception disturbances, Graded Motor Imagery
- Medical subject headings
- Complex Regional Pain Syndromes, Chronic Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Graded Motor Imagery + Therapeutic exercisesOther
Functional, mobility, strengthening, and mobilization exercises, both passive and active.
The exercises are designed to improve mobility and function in the affected limb.
In addition to this standard treatment, the intervention group will receive care using Gradual Motor Imagery.
The protocol lasts 6 weeks (3 sessions of 15 minutes per day), divided into 3 phases: implicit motor imagery, explicit motor imagery followed by mirror therapy
Sham-GMI (non-motor mental imagery) + Therapeutic exercisesOther
Functional, mobility, strengthening, and mobilization exercises, both passive and active.
The exercises are designed to improve mobility and function in the affected limb.
In addition to this standard treatment, the control group will receive a non-motor mental imagery intervention (visual imagery or sham-GMI), designed not to stimulate the sensorimotor areas of the brain while resembling IMG (3 sessions of 15 minutes per day for 6 weeks).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group "Graded Motor Imagery + Therapeutic exercises" | Experimental | Graded Motor Imagery (left/right discrimination, explicit motor imagery, mirror therapy) and exercises (15 minutes, 3 times per day, 6 weeks) Receives: Other: Graded Motor Imagery + Therapeutic exercises |
| Group "Sham-GMI (non-motor mental imagery) + Therapeutic exercises" | Sham comparator | Sham-GMI (non-motor mental imagery) + Therapeutic exercises Receives: Other: Sham-GMI (non-motor mental imagery) + Therapeutic exercises |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Body perception disorders (Bath Scale)
Assessment of body perception disturbances; 7 items
Measured: End of intervention (Week 6)
Secondary outcomes (9)
Body perception disorders (Bath Scale)
Assessment of body perception disturbances; 7 items
Measured: 3 months after intervention (M3)
Mean pain intensity (Numeric rating scale)
Mean pain during the last week, mean pain during the last week during movement, mean pain during the last week at rest
Measured: End of intervention (Week 6), 3 months after intervention (M3)
QuickDash
Self-reported assessment of upper limb function :
Measured: End of intervention (Week 6), 3 months after intervention (M3)
PROMIS 29
Self-reported assessment of quality of life (7 domains, 29 items)
Measured: End of intervention (Week 6), 3 months after intervention (M3)
Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)
Self-reported assessment of pain catastrophizing
Measured: End of intervention (Week 6), 3 months after intervention (M3)
Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (short form)
Self-reported assessment of fear of movement (6 items)
Measured: End of intervention (Week 6), 3 months after intervention (M3)
Pain Self Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ)
Self-reported assessment of confidence in performing activities despite ongoing pain
Measured: End of intervention (Week 6), 3 months after intervention (M3)
Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC)
Self-administered questions asking respondents to rate how their condition has changed since the intervention
Measured: End of intervention (Week 6), 3 months after intervention (M3)
Medication Quantification Scale (MQS)
MQS quantifies pain medication use and provides a score.
Measured: End of intervention (Week 6), 3 months after intervention (M3)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Sep 2026
- Study start1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion15 May 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Jul 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Complex Regional Pain SyndromesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Randomized controlled trial
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Nantes University Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07818174
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RC25_0515
- Acronym
- Bath-Min
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 8 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 14 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Graded Motor Imagery Effects on Body Perception Disturbance in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome : a Randomised Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07818174
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Bath-Min / RC25_0515
- Conditions
- Complex Regional Pain Syndromes
- Keywords
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Primary chronic pain, Body perception disturbances, Graded Motor Imagery
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Nantes University HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 15 May 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Jul 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 14 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating pain condition that usually develops following trauma. Patients with CRPS experience intense, continuing, disproportionate pain and multiple symptoms such as changes or asymmetry in colour, temperature or oedema, as well as stiffness, tremors or dystonia and body perception disturbances. Body perception disturbances are now recognised as part of the typical presentation of CRPS and have been shown to correlate, in particular, with pain intensity.
Managing CRPS is challenging and treatment options are limited. Among these, treatments aimed at cortical reorganisation, such as Graded Motor Imagery (GMI), have shown evidence of efficacy in terms of pain and function. However, with regard to body perception disorders, the evidence is limited and emerging.
Our aim is to evaluate the effects of Graded Motor Imagery on body perception disorders in patients with upper limb CRPS. Method: a randomised controlled trial comparing an intervention group - therapeutic exercises plus GMI for 6 weeks (implicit motor imagery, explicit motor imagery followed by mirror therapy) - with a control group - therapeutic exercises plus sham-GMI (non-motor mental imagery) for 6 weeks.
Outcome measures: body perception disorders (Bath Scale), pain intensity (Numerical Rating Scale), quality of life (PROMIS 29), catastrophising (PCS), fear of pain, CRPS Severity Score, patient-reported global impression of change, medication use and self-efficacy. Interventions are carried out in private practice by independent physiotherapists. Assessors are blinded for the primary outcome. A qualitative component will explore the experiences and perceptions of patients and therapists regarding body perception disturbances, GMI and participation in a research project.
This study aims are to improve treatment options for the management of SDRC and to improve the recognition and treatment of body perception disorders in SDRC.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Randomized controlled trial
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Group "Graded Motor Imagery + Therapeutic exercises" | Experimental | Other: Graded Motor Imagery + Therapeutic exercisesGraded Motor Imagery (left/right discrimination, explicit motor imagery, mirror therapy) and exercises (15 minutes, 3 times per day, 6 weeks) |
| Group "Sham-GMI (non-motor mental imagery) + Therapeutic exercises" | Sham comparator | Other: Sham-GMI (non-motor mental imagery) + Therapeutic exercisesSham-GMI (non-motor mental imagery) + Therapeutic exercises |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Over 18 years
- Upper limb unilateral CRPS (Budapest criteria)
- No prior use of GMI
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Psychiatric disorders
- Not confident with written/spoken French
- Not confident with smartphone use
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Graded Motor Imagery + Therapeutic exercisesFunctional, mobility, strengthening, and mobilization exercises, both passive and active. The exercises are designed to improve mobility and function in the affected limb. In addition to this standard treatment, the intervention group will receive care using Gradual Motor Imagery. The protocol lasts 6 weeks (3 sessions of 15 minutes per day), divided into 3 phases: implicit motor imagery, explicit motor imagery followed by mirror therapy | Other | Group "Graded Motor Imagery + Therapeutic exercises" |
| Sham-GMI (non-motor mental imagery) + Therapeutic exercisesFunctional, mobility, strengthening, and mobilization exercises, both passive and active. The exercises are designed to improve mobility and function in the affected limb. In addition to this standard treatment, the control group will receive a non-motor mental imagery intervention (visual imagery or sham-GMI), designed not to stimulate the sensorimotor areas of the brain while resembling IMG (3 sessions of 15 minutes per day for 6 weeks). | Other | Group "Sham-GMI (non-motor mental imagery) + Therapeutic exercises" |
Primary outcome
Body perception disorders (Bath Scale)
Time frame: End of intervention (Week 6)
Assessment of body perception disturbances; 7 items
9 secondary outcomes
Body perception disorders (Bath Scale)
Time frame: 3 months after intervention (M3)
Mean pain intensity (Numeric rating scale)
Time frame: End of intervention (Week 6), 3 months after intervention (M3)
QuickDash
Time frame: End of intervention (Week 6), 3 months after intervention (M3)
PROMIS 29
Time frame: End of intervention (Week 6), 3 months after intervention (M3)
Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)
Time frame: End of intervention (Week 6), 3 months after intervention (M3)
Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (short form)
Time frame: End of intervention (Week 6), 3 months after intervention (M3)
Pain Self Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ)
Time frame: End of intervention (Week 6), 3 months after intervention (M3)
Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC)
Time frame: End of intervention (Week 6), 3 months after intervention (M3)
Medication Quantification Scale (MQS)
Time frame: End of intervention (Week 6), 3 months after intervention (M3)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Complex Regional Pain Syndromes
Recruiting
The Effectiveness of Conservative Treatment in Patients With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.
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Phase 3, Open-Label Extension Study of AMBTX-01 (Neridronate) for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I
RecruitingPhase 3
Evaluation of IV AMBTX-01 (Neridronate) for Treatment of CRPS Type 1 (CRPS-RISE)
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I
Active, not recruiting
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Chronic Neuropathic Pain
Chronic Neuropathic Pain, Post-Stroke Pain
Recruiting
Clinical and Cerebral Changes Following Multifaceted Rehabilitation of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
20 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Graded Motor Imagery + Therapeutic exercises in people with Complex Regional Pain Syndromes, run by Nantes University Hospital at 20 sites in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 20 sites in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Sessi ACAPO, Doctor of Science (+33 02 51 83 11 72, sessi.acapo@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Body perception disorders (Bath Scale) (time frame: End of intervention (Week 6)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Sep 2026.