Biofeedback

Question 1

What is biofeedback?

Answer 1

The use of electronic instrumentation to provide objective information (or feedback) to an individual about a physiologic function or response so that the individual becomes aware of his or her response

Question 2

How is biofeedback used in clinical practice?

Answer 2

It is used to help the patient develop greater voluntary control following injury or dysfunction

Question 3

Feedback includes information related to…

Answer 3

Sensations associated with movements itself

Result of the action relative to some goal or objective

Question 4

Intrinsic Feedback

Answer 4

Kinesthetic, visual, cutaneous, vestibular, auditory

Question 5

Extrinsic Feedback

Answer 5

Knowledge of results, verbally, mechanically, electronically

Question 6

EMG Biofeedback

Answer 6

Sensitive, objective, accurate and quantitative

Question 7

Peripheral Skin Temperature

Answer 7

Indicates vasoconstriction and vasodilation

Question 8

Finger Phototransmission

Answer 8

Indicates vasoconstriction and vasodilation

Question 9

Skin Conductance Activity

Answer 9

Indicating sweat gland activity

Question 10

Electroencephalograph

Answer 10

The brain’s spontaneous electrical activity over a period of time

Question 11

Electromyographic Activity

Answer 11

Indicating electrical activity during muscle contraction

Question 12

The pattern of MU recruitment depends on…

Answer 12

• Inherent properties of specific motor neurons
• Force required during the activity
• Speed of contraction

Question 13

Biofeedback measures…

Answer 13

Electrical activity associated with muscle contraction (NOT the actual muscle contraction)

Question 14

Uses of Biofeedback

Answer 14

Anxiety or stress, asthma, chemotherapy side effects, chronic pain, constipation, high BP, incontinence, IBS, Raynaud’s

Question 15

Indications for Biofeedback

Answer 15

Muscle re-ed, regaining N/M control, increasing isometric/isotonic strength, decreasing muscle guarding, pain reduction, relaxation of muscle spasm, psychological relaxation

Question 16

Rectification

Answer 16

Creates a pulsed direct current that can then be smoothed and integrated

Question 17

Smoothing

Answer 17

Eliminates the high-frequenxy fluctuations that are produced

Question 18

Integrating

Answer 18

Measuring the area under the curve for a specific period (forms quantification of EMG)

Question 19

Patient Appropriate?

Answer 19

1. Do they have a motor impairment that would suggest biofeedback would be beneficial?
2. Do they have the ability for voluntary control?
3. Are they motivated and cognitively aware?

Question 20

Benefits of Biofeedback

Answer 20

non-invasive, may reduce/eliminate need for meds, treatment alternative for those intolerant of meds, option when meds haven’t worked well or during pregnancy, helps people take charge of their health

Question 21

Biofeedback is what type of feedback?

Answer 21

Visual and Auditory

Question 22

Sensitivity for Muscle Relaxation

Answer 22

High

Question 23

Sensitivity for Muscle Re-ed

Answer 23

Low

Question 24

Unique uses for Biofeedback

Answer 24

Pelvic floor dysfunction, stress urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, ED

Question 25

T/F: Biofeedback units measure physiologic processes.

Answer 25

False

Question 26

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

Answer 26

True

Question 27

T/F: A high signal gain means the biofeedback unit has a low sensitivity for muscle activity.

Answer 27

False

Question 28

``` Some biofeedback instruments measure peripheral skin temperature. Which of the following do they also measure? A. Finger phototransmission B. Skin conductance activity C. Electromyographic activity D. All of the above ```

Answer 28

D

Question 29

``` Biofeedback electrodes should be placed as near to the muscle belly as possible. They should also be placed _______ to the muscle. A. perpendicular B. parallel C. obliquely D. none of the above ```

Answer 29

B

Question 30

``` What is the principle that allows the biofeedback unit to eliminate common noise between active electrodes? A. CMRR B. filtering C. rectification D. integration ```

Answer 30

A

Question 31

``` Raw EMG must be converted to a visual or audio format. What is the order of the conversion? A. integrate, rectify, smooth B. smooth, rectify, integrate C. rectify, smooth, integrate D. rectify, integrate, smooth ```

Answer 31

C

Question 32

``` The goal of using biofeedback in muscle reeducation is to elicit a: A. twitch response B. muscle contraction C. decrease in pain D. relaxation ```

Answer 32

B

Question 33

``` How long should the average biofeedback period for a single muscle be to avoid fatigue and boredom? A. 1-2 minutes B. 2-5 minutes C. 5-10 minutes D. 10-15 minutes ```

Answer 33

C

Question 34

``` What factor(s) must be addressed when using biofeedback to relax muscle guarding? A. pain B. mental imagery C. apprehension D. all of the above ```

Answer 34

D