J Nurs Acad Soc.  1990 Aug;20(2):195-213.

The Effects on EMG Level by EMG Biofeedback with Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training on Tension Headache

• Ro YJ
• Kim NC
• Kim HS

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess if ENG biofeedback training with progressive muscle relaxation training is effective in reducing the EMG level in patients with tension headaches. This study which lasted from 23 October to 30 December 1989, was conducted on 10 females who were diagnosed as patients with tension headaches and selected from among volunteers at C. University in Seoul. The process of the study was as follows : First, before the treatment, the baseline was measured for two weeks and the level of EMG was measured five times in five minutes. And then EMG biofeedback training was used to six weeks, 12 sessions in all, and progressive muscle relaxation was done at home by audio tape over eight weeks. Each session was composed of a 5-minutes baseline, two 5-minutes EMG biofeedback training periods and a 5-minutes self-control stage. Each stage was followed by a five minutes rest period. So each session took a total of 40 minutes. The EMG level was measured by EMG biofeedback(Autogenic-Cyborg: M 130 EMG module). The results were as follows: 1. The average age of the subjects was 44.1 years and the average history of headache was 10.6 years(range : 6 months-20 years). 2.The level of EMG was lowest between the third and the fourth week of the raining except in Cases I and IV. 3. The patients began to show a nonconciliatory attitude at the first session of the fifth week of the training.

MeSH Terms

*Biofeedback, Psychology
Electromyography/methods
Female
Headache/physiopathology/psychology/*therapy
Humans
Muscles/*physiopathology
*Relaxation Therapy
Stress, Psychological/*physiopathology