The treatment of patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type 1 is challenging and unpredictable as the condition presents with vascular and neuropathic symptoms after nil or even minor injury to a peripheral nerve. The condition is one of a pain and motor dysfunction.
The pathophysiology is not well understood and the relief of symptoms may change from being sympathetically mediated to sympathetically independent during the course of the disease.
At any stage physiotherapy has been advocated as the corner stone of treatment in the rehabilitation of these individuals.
Case histories have been presented that illustrate important aspects and demonstrate the value of early and the appropriate physiotherapy that may be more successful than other pharmacological and physical interventions in this disease.