biofeedback and relaxation

what is biofeedback ?

A tool to help a patient learn and practice the process of muscle relaxation

for biofeedback it must be…

1. Specific to the muscle that the patient is trying to relax​

2. Delivered immediately after the patient achieves the desired result (muscle relaxation)​

3. Once the patient relaxes the muscle, the machine must immediately respond

emg biofeedback does what?

Gives on-going instantaneous information to the patient in the form of a beep and/or visually through a light source about the resting status of the muscle

how does biofeedback work?

• 1. Electrodes pick up action potentials of the underlying muscle​

• 2. The signal is amplified in the machine​

• 3. The biofeedback machine responds with visual and auditory cues when an action potential is perceived​

• 4. The patient consciously tries to relax the muscle to turn the sound off

enhance relaxation to decrease what?

• stress ​

• pain​

• spasticity​

• rigidity

what is another purpose of emg biofeedback?

muscle re-education

why would you use the stabilizer for biofeedback?

Use a blood pressure cuff or “The Stabilizer” to provide visual feedback for a patient to train for relaxation or stabilization of the cervical muscles

biofeedback is used for what stage of pain?

chronic pain management

what is the purpose of relaxation training?

Relaxation training helps patients learn to decrease pain, muscle tension, anxiety or stress associated with a variety of impairments

what are key points of performing relaxation training?

• Conscious effort through the patient’s thoughts to reduce muscle tension​

• Training must occur in a quiet soothing environment​

• May be used in conjunction with deep breathing exercises or visualization​

• PT/PTA must use a soft tone of voice when instructing the patient in relaxation

what is progressive relaxation?

Systematic, distal to proximal progression of voluntary contraction and relaxation of muscles

what is feldenkrais?

• Awareness through movement​

• Combines sensory awareness, motion of the limbs and trunk with conscious relaxation procedures​

• Used to increase relaxation, alter muscle imbalances and abnormal posture​

• Movement decreases muscle tension & pain

what is the progressive relaxation exercise sequence?

1. Patient must be in a quiet area in a comfortable position​

2. Patient should breathe in a relaxed manner​

3. Ask patient to contract muscles in hands and feet simultaneously and hold for 5-7 seconds, followed by 30 secs of relaxation​

4. Ask the patient to feel a sense of heaviness and warmth in the area just contracted

5. Progress to a more proximal area of the body and have the patient repeat the contraction/relaxation ​

   6. Patient should feel a sense of relaxation and warmth through the entire limb and eventually the entire body

what are indicators that relaxation techniques work?

• Decreased muscle tension​

• Decreased HR and RR and BP​

• Increased skin temp​

• Patient relaxed, eyes closed, flat facial expression​

• Jaw and hands relaxed​

• Decreased distractibility