Electromyographic Feedback Research Articles

Utility of electromyographic biological feedback in chronic stuttering: a clinical study with follow-up.

A systematic case study is presented in which eight chronic adult stutterers underwent an electromyographic (EMG) biological feedback training program designed to reduce masseter muscle tension in an effort to improve fluency. All subjects mastered the program within 10 30-min. sessions. Measures of muscle tension and fluency indicated improvement at the end of treatment that were maintained at 3- to 6-mo. follow-up.

Incentives to enhance the effects of electromyographic Feedback Training in stroke patients

The use of monetary incentives to enhance the effects of electromyographic (EMG) feedback training was studied in five stabilized stroke patients with hemiplegia. The study was divided into Baseline, EMG Feedback Training, Feedback Training Plus Incentives, and Follow-up treatment conditions. Integrated EMG activity was recorded simultaneously from the anterior tibialis and medial gastrocnemius muscles during relaxation and dorsiflexion of the affected foot. Patients were instructed to try to increase anterior tibialis EMG activity while decreasing EMG activity in the medial gastrocnemius. Range of motion was measured both prior to and immediately following the Baseline and Feedback Training conditions. Results suggested that (a) EMG feedback training produced greater EMG control and range of motion than did unassisted practice, and (b) the addition of monetary incentives may enhance the effects of feedback training, possibly through its effect on patient motivation.

Behavioral intervention with muscle-contraction headache: A review : E.T. Beaty and S.N. Haynes, Psychosom. Med., 41 (1979) 165–180

Pain: February 1980 - Volume 8 - Issue 1 - p 132 doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(80)90122-0

Successful treatment of one case of tardive dyskinesia with electromyographic feedback from the masseter muscle

Evidence from one case with a 15-month follow-up is presented to support the conclusion that electromyographic (EMG) feedback from the masseter was effective in controlling tardive dyskinesia, while a combination of EMG feedback from the frontalis and verbal muscle relaxation training were not.

Frontal electromyographic feedback

This study evaluated the effects of one session of frontal electromyographic (EMG) feedback on (1) frontal EMG, (2) frontal EMG response to stress, (3) cardiovascular variables, and (4) cardiovascular responses to stress. Eighteen male and female undergraduate volunteers received either frontal EMG feedback or a relaxation instructions control procedure and were then exposed to a fear stimulus (visualization of a feared situation) and a post-stress adaptation period while several cardiovascular measures were monitored. In comparison to the control group, frontal EMG feedback significantly reduced resting levels of frontal EMG and frontal EMG response to stress but had no significant effect on cardiovascular measures. The results of this study suggest that one session of frontal EMG feedback may attenuate response to stress but, within the paradigm utilized, may be confined to the specific muscle groups monitored. Additional areas of needed research were noted including individual differences in generalization, the effects of EMG feedback from multiple sites sequentially and concomitantly, and the generalized effects from symptom-specific sites.

The use of EMG feedback and progressive relaxation in the treatment of a woman with chronic back pain

In this systematic single-case study, a 71-year-old white female with chronic back pain and paravertebral muscle spasm was treated with 17 sessions of electromyographic (EMG) feedback, with recording site just below the right inferior scapular angle. Progressive relaxation practice was also employed. EMG level was monitored during baseline, treatment, and follow-up phases. Backaches were recorded by the subject on a daily basis. There was a marked decrease in both EMG level and frequency of backaches, as well as an increase in activities at home. Improvement was maintained 12 weeks after the last treatment session.

Effects of frontalis EMG feedback and reinforcement on frontalis EMG level

This experiment employed a between-subjects design ( N = 40) to investigate the effects of feedback and reinforcement on the lowering of frontalis electromyographic (EMG) activity. The feedback and reinforcement manipulations were combined in a 2 × 2 factorial design and each subject underwent one baseline and two training sessions on three consecutive days. The analogue feedback signal was a 55 dB tone whose pitch varied as a function of EMG activity, while the reinforcement consisted of points which were exchangeable for money. The training sessions were each divided into 10 2-min baseline periods and 10 2-min trial periods. The results indicated that although analogue feedback did not result in lowered EMG levels, trial period EMG level was significantly lower than baseline level under conditions of reinforcement. These results pose problems for Budzynski and Stoyva's (1972) views concerning the therapeutic usefulness of frontalis EMG feedback training.

Biofeedback treatment of atopic dermatitis: controlled case studies of eight cases.

To investigate the feasibility of a behaviorally oriented intervention program with atopic dermatitis, 12 patients were exposed to a fixed sequence of treatment phases including a no-treatment baseline phase, a phase incorporating nonspecific treatment factors, and a phase involving frontal electromyographic (EMG) feedback and relaxation instructions. Photographic analyses of involved skin areas revealed significant remission of dermatological problems across the entire program, although significant changes could not be attributable to any specific phase. Ratings of itching level decreased within but not across treatment sessions, and variable correlations across subjects were found between frontal EMG and itching level. MMPI results from the dermatitis subjects were within normal limits. Overall, the results provided mixed support for the hypothesis that atopic dermatitis may be amenable to intervention through behaviorally oriented treatment procedures.

Controlled trial of EMG feedback in muscle contraction headache

Twenty-eight patients suffering from severe, longstanding muscle contraction headache were randomly assigned to two groups, one receiving electromyographic (EMG) feedback therapy and the other, "most suitable alternative therapy." Headache intensity and severity as well as drug intake were reduced in the feedback group (p less than or equal to 0.01) as opposed to no improvement in the control group. The positive treatment effect in the feedback group persisted through a three-month follow-up period. EMG feedback therapy is effective in the treatment of muscle contraction headache even in its chronic, severe form, which is resistant to traditional treatment methods.

Behavioral intervention with muscle-contraction headache: a review.

Studies involving behavioral intervention with muscle-contraction headache are reviewed. Intervention approaches have most frequently involved frontal electromyographic feedback and relaxation instructions. Although behavioral intervention packages have been more effective than control procedures in reducing headache activity, identification of active components of these packages is difficult. Specifically,, the contribution of placebo, expectancy and demand factors, reactive effects of self-monitoring, and home practice have not been adequately assessed. The importance of assessing individual differences in etiology and in response to intervention is stressed. The results of some studies are congruent with the hypothesized muscle tension etiology of muscle-contraction headaches but the results from others suggest that factors other than muscle-tension may be involved. Supportive laboratory research on the intervention procedures and cost-efficiency of electromyographic feedback and relaxation instructions are discussed.

The Value of Biofeedback in the Treatment of Chronic Headache: A Five‐Year Retrospective Study

SYNOPSISA five‐year retrospective study was conducted with patients who had completed training with thermal and electromyograph feedback and muscle relaxation exercises. The purpose was to examine the long‐term effects of biofeedback training on headache problems. A questionnaire was mailed to all 556 patients who had completed training between September, 1972 and January, 1977. Patients were asked to measure the effects of biofeedback training on their headache problems, i.e., no improvement, transient improvement, or long‐term improvement. 407 questionnaires were completed and returned. The role of such variables as age at time of training, sex, the presence of a habituation problem prior to training, and time elapsed since training were analysed and found to significantly influence the success of biofeedback training. A trend was seen within the diagnosis variable. The most successful biofeedback candidate was found to be a female under 30 years of age who was not habituated to medication and without depressive symptoms, diagnosed as suffering from vascular headaches. It can be concluded from the results that biofeedback training is a successful form of therapy in treating headache problems.

Differential effectiveness of electromyography feedback, verbal relaxation instructions, and medication placebo with tension headaches : D.J. Cox, A. Freundlich and R.G. Meyer, J. cons. clin. Psychol., 43 (1975) 892–898

Differential effectiveness of electromyography feedback, verbal relaxation instructions, and medication placebo with tension headaches : D.J. Cox, A. Freundlich and R.G. Meyer, J. cons. clin. Psychol., 43 (1975) 892–898

How Best to do Electromyographic Feedback Training?: To the Editor

How Best to do Electromyographic Feedback Training?: To the Editor

How Best to do Electromyographic Feedback Training?: The Authors Respond

How Best to do Electromyographic Feedback Training?: The Authors Respond

Biofeedback in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

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

Treatment of Hypertension with Biofeedback and Relaxation Techniques

The present study describes a 16-week trial of the use of a combination of biofeedback and relaxation techniques for the treatment of hypertension. Twenty-two hypertensive patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups: (1) diastolic blood pressure feedback, electromyographic feedback, and verbal relaxation; (2) sham blood pressure feedback; and (3) no treatment. For the 14 patients completing active treatment during an initial or crossover period, the average changes in blood pressure as measured outside the laboratory were minimal (0/-1 and +1/0 mm Hg, supine and standing, respectively). Average blood pressure reduction in the laboratory was no greater with active than with sham blood pressure feedback (-3/-2 vs. -5/-2 mm Hg). One subject, however, after showing no change in blood pressure during sham feedback, achieved pronounced and prolonged improvement following active treatment. Overall results do not support the usefulness of these techniques as primary therapy in most hypertensives.

Effects of electromyographic feedback training on motor control in spastic cerebral palsy.

Electromyographic feedback training may play a special role in increasing active range of motion in spastic cerebral palsied individuals. The effects of electromyographic feedback training were documented on four persons with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy within a single subject design. Subjects received immediate auditory and visual feedback twice daily during ten consecutive days. Electromyographic feedback training resulted in increases in the active range of motion of the ankle joint of from 20 percent to 500 percent in the limbs trained during the first five days with electromyographic feedback and of from 33 percent to 450 percent in the limbs trained in the last five days. The acquired active range of motion was maintained by two of the subjects over intervals of from four to nine weeks.

Electromyographic biofeedback: behavioral treatment of neuromuscular disorders.

Electromyographic biofeedback is becoming widely used to help patients regain voluntary control of specific muscles affected by neuromuscular disorders. Electromyographic feedback training has been employed in the rehabilitation of patients affected by poliomyelitis, cerebrovascular accident, torticollis, nerve injury, temporomandibular joint syndrome, bruxism, and other disorders. While EMG biofeedback appears to be a promising treatment technique, the research literature on its effectiveness consists mainly of uncontrolled case reports and clinical trials. It is concluded that new studies with more sophisticated design and more careful control are needed to demonstrate that EMG biofeedback makes a unique contribution to the treatment of neuromuscular disorders. Research is needed to identify relevant patients characteristics predictive of success, specify appropriate muscle groups for the treatment of particular disorders, determine how feedback can be most efficiently combined with more conventional techniques in achieving a therapeutic effect, and establish meaningful criteria of success in the treatment of neuromuscular disorders.

A commentary on electromyographic feedback in physical therapy.

Journal Article A Commentary on Electromyographic Feedback in Physical Therapy Get access Carmella Gonnella, PhD, Carmella Gonnella, PhD 1Dr. Gonnella is Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Division of Allied Health Professions, Emory University School of Medicine, and Director of Research, Emory University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, 1441 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322. Reprints may be ordered from Dr. Gonnella. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Ruth Kalish, PhD, Ruth Kalish, PhD 2Dr. Kalish is Associate Professor, Division of Allied Health and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, and Director, Graduate Program in Physical Therapy, Emory University, PO Box 23746, Atlanta, GA 30322. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Gail Hale, BS Gail Hale, BS 3Ms. Hale is Research Specialist, Emory University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Physical Therapy, Volume 58, Issue 1, January 1978, Pages 11–14, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/58.1.11 Published: 01 January 1978

Comparison of electromyographic feedback and progressive relaxation training in treating circumscribed anxiety stress reactions.

Comparison of electromyographic feedback and progressive relaxation training in treating circumscribed anxiety stress reactions.