Background: Pain is one of the main symptoms associated with spinal cord injury (SCI) and can be associated with changes to the central nervous system (CNS).
Purpose: This article provides an overview of the evidence relating to CNS changes (structural and functional) associated with pain in SCIs.
Data sources: A systematic review was performed, according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations, on PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science in March 2018.
Study selection: Studies were selected if they concerned changes in the CNS of patients with SCI, regardless of the type of imagery.
Data extraction: Data were extracted by 2 blinded reviewers.
Data synthesis: There is moderate evidence for impaired electroencephalographic function and metabolic abnormalities in the anterior cingulate in patients experiencing pain. There is preliminary evidence that patients with pain have morphological and functional changes to the somatosensory cortex and alterations to thalamic metabolism. There are conflicting data regarding the relationships between lesion characteristics and pain. In contrast, patients without pain can display protective neuroplasticity.
Limitations and conclusion: Further studies are required to elucidate fully the relationships between pain and neuroplasticity in patients with SCIs. However, current evidence might support the use of physical therapist treatments targeting CNS plasticity in patients with SCI pain.
© 2020 American Physical Therapy Association.