Bodyflow as a Rehabilitation Strategy in the Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome is a progressive painful chronic neuropathy with autonomic nervous system dysfunction, bone demineralization, and muscle weakness; whose appearance is associated with a traumatic event such as fracture, surgery or cardiovascular event, among others, which usually affects one or more extremities. Its treatment constitutes a great challenge for science, currently settling in physiotherapy the greatest expectations for the future for rehabilitation. Bodyflow is a low frequency electro stimulator that can be applied to reduce edema, stimulate circulation and lymphatic drainage. The method seeks to contract the tunica media of the arteries and veins, as a facilitating means for the transport of lymph and blood. Stimulation is applied to the muscle, using suction cups and electrodes located in different body segments. Objective: To present a review on Bodyflow as an effective rehabilitation strategy in the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome. Methods: To achieve this purpose, electronic and library searches of national and foreign medical journals indexed in Scielo, Imbiomed and Pubmed were carried out over a 10-year horizon. Conclusions: There are few studies that suggest the use of bodyflow therapy as an alternative for the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome and this article suggests its use due to its analgesic and motor effects.