Here’s a very interesting new study of a movement therapy for pain. Dr. Moseley at Oxford studied a specific sequence of thinking about movements and actual movements that seems to lessen pain and increase function. This treatment is very exciting work for several reasons:
- it lessens pain
- it increases functioning
- it helps in difficult-to-treat conditions like CRPS (RSD) and phantom limb pain
- it doesn’t rely on medication or invasive procedures
Patients in the study went through the following sequence:
1. Looking a pictures of hands and feet, and determining if each picture was from the right or left side of the body.
2. Imagining moving their hand or foot into the same position as each picture.
3. Actually moving their hand or foot into the same position as each picture.
As in all treatment I write about on this blog, this is NOT something to try at home. In previous studies of Dr. Moseley’s that I’ve read, for example, patients experienced increased pain if the treatment was out of a particular order. So this treatment is to be undertaken only under a doctor’s guidance; it’s not harmless because it’s “just moving.”
The decrease in pain seems to come from a re-training in your brain, having the brain focus on normal movements rather than pain signals. But the exact way it works isn’t known. I plan to invite Dr. Moseley to tell us more about the study in a future blog post, so let me know any questions you’d like to ask him. If you’re interested in reading the study, it’s published in Neurology, Volume 67, Issue 12, page 2129, 2006.
Currently, as far as I’m aware, it’s only a research protocol and not available in your pain medicine physician’s office. But I’m hoping this path of research continues, as it shows tremendous possibility.
10 responses so far ↓
Nickie // Jan 24, 2007 at 3:19 pm
I’m visually impaired and have CRPS/RSD. IOne question I have is whether this technique could ever be adapted for someone without site.
By the way, I love your blog!
jeisea // Jan 25, 2007 at 3:21 am
The program you speak of is “Recognize”. It was developed by Lorimer Moseley and is available as a computer disc from
http://www.noigroup.com.au
I am beginning this program shortly and willbe outlining what happens and my progress on my recently created blog
http://www.crps-rsd-a-better-life.blogspot.com
There are links to all that I tell you about here plus really exciting work on virtual reality to resolve pain - UK research.
recognise®
http://www.noigroup.com/noi-podcast-recognise-101106.mp3
http://www.noigroup.com/noi-podcast-recognise-101106.mp3Limb laterality recognition [EN/DE]
This novel evidence-based program reliably and accurately measures how easily people can tell whether a pictured limb is a left limb or a right limb. This measurement can provide important information about the underlying cause of a painful disorder, which can then be used to guide treatment and to evaluate the effectiveness of that treatment. This program allows patients to gradually progress from simple to more challenging pictures and can also be used in conjunction with other NOI brain training resources to provide a thorough treatment program.
I’ll give you a link to David Butler being interviewed about the program.
http://www.noigroup.com/noi-podcast-recognise-101106.mp3
http://www.noigroup.com/noi-podcast-recognise-101106.mp3
Dr Moseley, a doctor of physiotherapy, also co- authored a book called “Explain Pain” with David Butler. As the name implies, explains pain in everyday language. It give people the power to challenge pain and consider new models for viewing what happens during pain.
Part of this new way of viewing pain is the concept that there is a virtual body image in the brain. Research has proven that chronic pain can resolve using a mirror to watch the mirror image of a good limb doing what would be painful for the “painful” limb.
There is a pod cast to mirror box therapy on the noigroup site.
I have whole body CRPS and am having success with mirrors. I personally go beyond what has currently been researched and do whole side mirror work.
I’m interested in knowing what is happening in the US. Please post on my blog if I can help you in any way.
I’ve just created agoogle group for people to post what works for them. This group does not discuss medications. You can join at the bottom of my blog. Hope this is helpful for you
jeisea
Suber // Jan 28, 2007 at 6:48 am
Does one focus the brain? Or is it the mind? I would say that it is the latter, and then by focusing the mind, the brain changes.
Interview with Dr. Moseley: Graded Motor Imagery Treatment | How To Cope With Pain Blog // Jan 31, 2007 at 4:34 am
[…] Last week I described a graduated movement therapy for chronic pain about which Dr. Lorimer Moseley published a study in Neurology. I’ve asked Dr. Moseley to help us better understand this exciting work. […]
Podcast about “Recognise” | How To Cope With Pain Blog // Feb 7, 2007 at 4:35 am
[…] We’ve been discussing graded motor imagery training to decrease pain. The first step of the program is looking at pictures of feet and hands, and figuring out if they’re right or left limbs. Here’s a podcast about a computer program called “Recognise” that Dr. Moseley spoke of: […]
Follow-up about graded motor movements | How To Cope With Pain Blog // Feb 21, 2007 at 4:16 am
[…] Many interesting comments were made on my posts about graded motor movements and Dr. Lorimer Moseley’s interview about his research. I’ve asked Dr. Moseley 2 questions as follow-up. (As always, do not undertake this treatment, nor any other, without first consulting with your doctor.) […]
So This Is Why I Still Have Pain: Chronic Pain Explained | How To Cope With Pain Blog // Sep 13, 2007 at 12:54 pm
[…] to treat chronic pain, including why it’s important to get moving, and how to live with pain, rather than figure you’ll get out of pain, then get back to […]
TearIzUp // Sep 29, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Excellent Post. My compliments to the author.
5 Steps To Help You And Paris Hilton Exercise Regularly | How To Cope With Pain Blog // Oct 17, 2007 at 12:27 am
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Juggle Your Pain Away | How To Cope With Pain Blog // Nov 2, 2007 at 3:36 am
[…] Moving can actually decrease pain. In your brain, normal movement competes with pain signals for attention. So the feedback of normal movement can crowd out the signals from painful movement, making you feel less pain. […]
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