title: Chronic pain and motor imagery: a rehabilitative experience in a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The "neuromatrix" theory of Melzack and the studies of Decety on motor imagery have opened the way to an alternative rehabilitation method in chronic pain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of motor imagery in chronic shoulder pain rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  University outpatient rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 49-year-old female with chronic shoulder pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neurocognitive approach, which involves the use of a new tool called "naval battle" to achieve chronic pain relief as assessed by the Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). The Shoulder Rating Questionnaire (SRQ) and Constant Scale (CS) were used to measure functional improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicate significant pain relief (71%) and improvement in functionality (50%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results seem to confirm the accuracy of the hypothesis on the genesis of chronic pain as a perceptive "discoherency" and that motor imagery can remake a coherence of afferences at central level in chronic pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of motor imagery in rehabilitation can be a viable alternative in chronic shoulder pain resistant to other rehabilitation protocols.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit La Sapienza University, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy - teresapaolucci@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zangrando
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paolucci
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Vulpiani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lamaro
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isidori
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Saraceni
mesh_terms: D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D064232:Visual Analog Scale