Electromyographic (EMG) feedback in chronic musculoskeletal pain: a controlled trial

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Abstract
The literature regarding the application EMG feedback training in musculoskeletal pain disorders is reviewed. A within-subject control trial of EMG feedback using a counterbalanced design in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain is reported here. Eighteen subjects (12 females and 6 males) were studied in terms of subjective reports of pain and EMG activity measurement under standardized conditions. Both EMG feedback and a control condition were active in reducing subjective pain levels, which increased during a waiting list condition in certain sequences. EMG activity declined during both EMG feedback and control conditions but only EMG feedback resulted in an orderly reduction in EMG baseline measurements with a highly significant linear trend when presented before the control condition in sequence. A significant correlation between subjective pain levels and surface EMG activity was found. Evidently, EMG feedback is superior to a control condition in training muscle relaxation but not in reducing subjective pain levels despite a high correlation between these 2 parameters. Non-specific factors may well affect pain scores and further research is required before the specific biofeedback training effect can be accepted as superior to its non-specific effects in reducing subjective pain.