European journal of pain : EJP
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Motor dysfunction in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) has been associated with bilateral malfunction of sensory and motor circuits, which hints at abnormal coupling between the affected and the contralateral unaffected limb. In addition, clinical observations suggest that motor performance may depend on the (voluntary or automatic) context in which movements are executed. The present study aimed to examine the role of voluntary and automatic aspects of interlimb coupling in CRPS. ⋯ Impaired motor control of the affected limb interfered with bimanual coordination, in particular for tasks involving voluntary (intended) as opposed to automatic (unintended) interlimb coupling. Our findings suggest inappropriate functioning of higher order centres involved in motor control of the affected limb, probably due to pain-related processes and impaired processing of proprioceptive information. Motor function of the affected limb may benefit from intended synchronization with movements of the unaffected contralateral limb, suggesting that bilateral training may be useful in patients with unilateral CRPS.