A Comparison of Frontal Electromyographic Biofeedback Training, Trapezius Electromyographic Biofeedback Training, and Progressive Muscle Relaxation Therapy in the Treatment of Tension Headache

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Abstract
This study considers whether electromyographic biofeedback training of myoelectric level activity of the quadriceps can influence the frontal electromyographic biofeedback relaxation training, given that the frontalis and the quadriceps cannot belong to the same motor synergy. Sixty volunteering healthy adults, (27.1 ± 6.94), 20 men and 40 women, were assigned in two groups, the experimental group (30), and the control group (30). At first the subjects of the experimental group were trained to maintain their myoelectric activity of the quadriceps femoris muscle into a bandwidth knowledge of results condition, secured by an emg biofeedback system. The contractions of the quadriceps ought to be submaximal, as shown on the set window on screen. To follow-up this training, the subjects of the experimental group were trained in frontal electomyographic biofeedback relaxation, for ten minutes. The subjects of the control group were only trained in frontal electomyographic biofeedback relaxation. Root Mean Square (RMS) data of relaxation training were recorded and analysed for both groups. The results, statistically controlled, concerned each group’s percentage of success, that is the percentage of the overall duration the subjects maintained the myoelectric activity of the frontalis below the criterion, as well as the means of each person’s RMS data in different periods of time. Significant differences were statistically shown (Mann-Whitney and t-test), as regards the percentage of relaxation training success (p=.021), the means of the total experimental period (p=.039), the means of the initial period (500 sec) (p=.030). The means of 5 subjects out of the experimental group and the means of 13 subjects out of the control group were maintained above the criterion. The behavior of both groups differed in that only the first 5 subjects’ group showed homogeneity. The behavior of both subjects’ group was different in the total experimental period. In the initial experimental period most of the subjects tended to reduce the myolectric level of the frontalis (73.33% for the experimental group and 56.66% for the control group). In the final experimental period, most of the subjects of both groups (63.33%), showed a tendency toward increasing the myoelectric activity. The results indicated that the experimental group subjects had better control under the specified criterion as regards the frontal electromyographic biofeedback relaxation training.

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