Biofeedback in rehabilitation

The aim of rehabilitation for clients suffering from paresis (partial paralysis) or plegia (complete paralysis) is to restore, quickly and comprehensively, the functions impaired by damage to the central nervous system, spinal cord injuries or peripheral nerve damage. An innovative approach in this form of therapy is the use of biofeedback, particularly following strokes.

Biofeedback in rehabilitation

During rehabilitation, clients’ muscle activity may be so greatly reduced that they are unable to perceive any muscle movements. This is where the EMG biofeedback into the process, enabling even the slightest muscle activity to be recorded and fed back to patients. The process begins with measuring residual muscle activity, followed by targeted exercises designed to increase this activity¹. Clients practise reactivating the affected muscle step by step.

In cases of peripheral nerve lesions, once the subject has become accustomed to EMG training on an intact muscle, short-term motor activity is established in the paralysed muscle and, for example, the development of voluntary activity is practised¹.  As training progresses, the repetition rate and duration of contraction can then be increased.

Advantages 

A key advantage of using biofeedback in rehabilitation is the motivational aspect. Often, progress made during training cannot be detected with the naked eye, which can lead to frustration and a sense of resignation among clients. Biofeedback offers valuable support here, as it makes even the smallest progress visible and provides the patient with immediate feedback. This positive reinforcement motivates clients to continue participating actively in the rehabilitation process.

Another advantage of biofeedback is that it allows clients to practise more independently. Whilst conventional physiotherapy methods often require direct guidance from therapists or trainers, biofeedback enables clients to carry out the exercises independently. This allows for more efficient use of therapists’ and trainers’ time, whilst also offering a more flexible and effective treatment option.¹

Effectiveness

Studies have shown that after around five weeks of using biofeedback³ (depending, of course, on the severity of the problem) significant progress can be made that is sustained in the long term.²³

For some muscles, rehabilitation following peripheral and central paralysis is improved compared with conventional physical training³, accelerated⁴⁵, or supported³.