Use of Electromyographic Biofeedback During the Acute Phase of Spinal Cord Injury

Excerpt

Current estimates indicate that 150,000 Americans sustained spinal cord injuries between 1974 and 1979.¹ Functional restoration of the spinal cord after damage has yet to be demonstrated in man. Medical and allied health professionals must seek new methods to improve such injured patient's neuromuscular status and his ability to function in everyday life.

One relatively new modality having direct application for use with the patient with incomplete spinal cord injury is surface EMG biofeedback. Past reports describe biofeedback treatment regimens that have dealt with patients with chronic spinal cord injuries.^2–4 Protocols from these studies emphasize the use of EMG biofeedback for relaxation or strengthening programs, but do not address uses or training strategies for patients with acute spinal cord injuries. The purpose of the following case study is to describe uses for EMG biofeedback for a patient with an acute incomplete spinal cord lesion.…