Biofeedback for Movement Disorders (Dystonia with Parkinson's Disease): Theory and Preliminary Results

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background. This paper presents a theoretical framework for using a combination of EEG biofeedback plus regular biofeedback with clients who have movement disorders. Method. A case study is included that describes intervention and results with a 47-year-old woman with the dual diagnosis of Parkinsonapos;s disease and dystonia. The rational for adding biofeedback interventions to traditional medical treatment hinges on the fact that muscle spindles, which are involved in muscle movement and tone, have double innervations, cholinergic and sympathetic (Passatore, Grassi, & Filippi, 1985). Both of these systems can be operantly conditioned using biofeedback. There were two learning goals: (1) increase the production of 12 to 15 Hz activity since this sensor motor rhythm (SMR) is associated with decreased firing of the red nucleus and the red nucleus, in turn, has links to the muscle spindles (Sterman, 2000); (2) train for calm, relaxed auto-nomic nervous system functioning (decreased sympathetic driv...