Abstract
Somatognostic functions (SF) of patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders (CMPD) show a number of disturbances. SF disorders can arise on the basis of developmental coordination disorder (DCD).
Changes of somatognosia due to DCD are expressed globally and an impaired perception affects the whole body. An efficient therapy must be intensive and long‑term.
Somatognostic adaptive changes occur during an acute painful stimulation or sensory and physical deprivation. They manifest themselves by a regionally differentiated change of the accuracy of perception which is fully reversible upon the afferent situation adjustment.
Maladaptive somatognostic changes arise through prolonged, especially polytopic, painful irritation. Their are caused neuroplastic changes in the CNS.
Maladaptive changes are expressed locally or regionally. They are not easily reversible by therapy.
Identifying dysfunction of SF within a comprehensive examination of the CMPD has a key diagnostic and therapeutic importance.