Electromyograph biofeedback and the treatment of chronic low back pain

• Main Author: Bush, Clarissa.
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 1984
• Subjects: Backache.; Biological control systems.; Electromyography.
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=71930

Sixty-six chronic low back pain sufferers, recruited through the media, were randomly divided into three groups. Following an assessment consisting of psychological questionnaires, pain monitoring and measurement of paraspinal electromyogram (EMG), one group received paraspinal EMG biofeedback, and a second group received a placebo treatment. The third group received no intervention. Two further assessments were carried out on all groups immediately after and three months after treatment. All groups showed significant reductions in pain, anxiety, depression and paraspinal EMG, but there were no differences among the groups. A regression analysis failed to identify subject characteristics which predicted positive outcome in the biofeedback group, but the Evaluative scale of the MPQ and hypnotizability were significant predictors of outcome for the placebo group. The results are discussed in terms of a general placebo effect of participating in research designed to reduce pain. It is concluded that paraspinal EMG biofeedback is not an effective treatment for chronic low back pain in a non-hospitalized population.