CH7 - Biofeedback

active electrode

an electrode attached directly to the skin over a muscle that picks up the electrical acivity produced by a muscle contraction

biofeedback

information provided from some measuring instrument about a specific biological function

electromyographic feedback

a therapeutic procedure that uses electronic or electromechanical instruments to accurately measure, process, and feedback reinforcing information via auditory or visual signals

filters

devices that help to reduce external noise that essentially make the amplifier more sensitive to some incoming frequencies and less sensitive to others

integration

an EMG signal processing technique that measures the area under the curve for a specified period of time, thus forming the basis for quantification of EMG activity

muscle guarding

a protective response in muscle that occurs owing to pain or fear of movement

noise

extraneous electrical activiy that may be produced by any source other than contracting muscle

raw EMG

a form in which the electrical activity produced by muscle contraction may be displayed and/or recorded before the signal is processed

rectification

a signal processing technique that changes the deflection of the waveform from the negative to the positive pole, essentiall creating a pulsed direct current

reference electrode

serves as a point of reference to compare the electrical activity recorded by the active electrodes

smoothing

an EMG signal processing technique that eliminates the high-frequency fluctuations that are produced w/ a changing electrical signal

A biofeedback unit measures the electrical activity produced by _____ of a muscle fiber as an indicator of the quality of a muscle contraction.

depolarization

Biofeedback information is displayed either _____ using lights or _____ using tones, beeps, buzzes, or clicks.

visually, auditorily

In a clinical setting, biofeedback is most typically used for _____, _____ or for _____.

muscle reeducation, decrease muscle guarding, pain reduction

T/F: Biofeedback units measure physiologic processes.

F

T/F: The reference electrode has no charge associated with it.

T

Biofeedback electrodes should be placed as near to the muscle of interest as possible. They should also be placed _____ to the muscle.

parallel

Raw EMG must be converted to a visual or audio format. What is the order of that conversion?

rectified, smoothed, integrated

The goal of using biofeedback in muscle reeducation is to elicit a

muscle contraction

How long should the average biofeedback period for a single muscle be to avoid fatigue and boredom?

5-10 minutes

What factors must be addressed when using biofeedback to relax muscle guarding?

all of these