Biofeedback in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Abstract

Rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary process that includes the cooperative efforts of various medical specialists and their associates in related health fields to improve the mental, social, physical, and vocational aptitudes of persons who are handicapped, with the object of upgrading their ability to live happily and productively within their environment. The health professionals involved in physical medicine and rehabilitation services are specially trained physicians (physiatrists), physical therapists, psychologists, social workers, recreational therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, vocational counselors, speech therapists, and others. Because many health professionals are involved who are experts in their specialized areas, feedback techniques in rehabilitation settings are varied. Although electromyographic techniques are mainly used by physical therapists and psychologists, other kinds of feedback techniques include EEG, thermal, position sensing, and other devices that are used or could be used by various specialists. Electromyographic feedback, audiovisual neuromuscular reeducation, and neuromyometry are synonymous terms used in the literature. They refer to treatment and evaluation of patients using electromyographic devices for the striated-muscle reeducation process. The clinical literature is