Abstract
The original use of biofeedback to train single muscle activity in static positions or movement unrelated to function did not correlate well to motor function improvements in patients with central nervous system injuries. The concept of task-oriented repetitive training suggests that biofeedback therapy should be delivered during functionally related dynamic movement to optimize motor function improvement. Current, advanced technologies facilitate the design of novel biofeedback systems that possess diverse parameters, advanced cue display, and sophisticated control systems for use in task-oriented biofeedback. In light of these advancements, this article: (1) reviews early biofeedback studies and their conclusions; (2) presents recent developments in biofeedback technologies and their applications to task-oriented biofeedback interventions; and (3) discusses considerations regarding the therapeutic system design and the clinical application of task-oriented biofeedback therapy. This review should provide a framework to further broaden the application of task-oriented biofeedback therapy in neuromotor rehabilitation.
Highlights
Biofeedback can be defined as the use of instrumentation to make covert physiological processes more overt; it includes electronic options for shaping appropriate responses [1,2,3]
Studies on EMG biofeedback indicated that patients who suffer from sensorimotor deficits can volitionally control single muscle activation and become more cognizant of their own EMG signal [8,9]
Because this review focuses on new technologies and to avoid repeating past study findings, we only summarize briefly the main characteristics of clinical applications of biofeedback for neuromotor therapy
Summary
This article reviewed recent developments in biofeedback concepts, technologies, and applications. New technology propels the application of diverse biofeedback therapy options within the context of functional training to improve motor control among neurorehabilitation patients. Promising techniques for task-oriented biofeedback study, both developed and proposed, were summarized. Some preliminary clinical tests offer encouraging results. These techniques are relatively new, so there is a dearth of clinical RCTs available to definitively prove the efficacy of using contemporary technologies for task-oriented biofeedback within the field of neurorehabilitation.
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