Research advances of microperimetric biofeedback training for low-vision rehabilitation in macular diseases / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#In clinical practice, many macular diseases in advanced stages such as age-related macular degeneration(ARMD)and Stargardt disease are manifested reduced visual acuity, unstable and even paracentral fixation resulting from the central scotoma followed by the scarring of neovascular fibres or the impairment of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium, which cause great distress to patients' life, work and psychology. For a long time, there have been limited rehabilitation treatments for such patients. However, recent articles have indicated that biofeedback training by using microperimetry is expected to enhance neurosensory adaptation by achieving cortical plasticity, and makes better use of residual retinal function to help those with low vision associated with central scotoma consolidate or establish stable central or paracentral fixation, thereby improving visual function including visual acuity and reading speed. In order to improve the understanding of this rehabilitation therapy, this article will overview the mechanism and protocol of microperimetric biofeedback training(MBFT), the selection of the preferred retinal locus, the clinical application in macular diseases and its prospects.

Effectiveness of biofeedback training among rectal cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the effect of biofeedback training on bowl function among rectal cancer patients with chemoradiotherapy and temporary enterostomy.@*Methods@#Using randomized controlled trial design, 109 rectal cancer patients were randomly divided into three groups, the first blank control group, the second group pelvic floor muscle exercise group, the third group biofeedback group. High resolution anorectal manometry was used for 6 longitudinal traces in 16 months. Data of bowel function were collected by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) Bowel Function Instrument.@*Results@#The main effect of the change of five indicators, anal resting pressure, rectal resting pressure, maximum squeeze pressure, maximum squeeze time and high pressure zone, was time. The other four indicators, rectal volume at first senory, rectal volume at sense of convenience, maximal tolerable rectal volume and rectal compliance, among patients of biofeedback group were (32.71±5.00) ml, (74.26±8.30) ml, (188.40±12.68) ml, (5.69±1.18) ml/kPa and (68.09±6.38). The rectal volume at first senory, rectal volume at sense of convenience, maximal tolerable rectal volume and rectal compliance, among patients of biofeedback group were significant higher than blank control group and pelvic floor muscle exercise group (F=3.589-26.826, P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#The biofeedback could significantly improve the sensory indicators of patients with middle and low rectal cancer. High-resolution anorectal manometry could effectively evaluate the effect of biofeedback training in patients with middle and low rectal cancer.

Effects of electromyographic biofeedback training on psychological and motor functioning in patients with spinal cord injury / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of electromyography biofeedback (EMGBF) on motor and psychological function in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods Seventy SCI patients were randomly divided into research and control groups with 35 patients in each.In addition to conventional rehabilitation,the patients in the research group received EMGBF training while those in the control group were treated with medium frequency electrotherapy.To evaluate the patients' self confidence and motor function of their paralyzed limbs,Rosenberg's self-esteem scale (RSES) and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) locomotor function scoring were performed before and six weeks after the interventions in both groups of patients.The changes of EMG of the quadriceps,hamstring and anterior tibial muscles of both groups in maximum contraction were also observed before and six weeks after the interventions.Results There were no significant differences in the RSES scores or ASIA locomotor function results between the groups before the interventions.ASIA locomotor function evaluation scores increased significantly in both groups after the interventions,with significantly better results in the research group.The RSES scores in the research group also improved significantly after the interventions,and RSES scoring and ASIA scoring were positively correlated in those patients.But no significant improvement in average RSES scores was found in the control group.The muscle contraction EMG amplitudes also increased significantly in patients of the research group after the interventions.Conclusions EMGBF training can enhance patients' self-confidence,which helps patients with SCI improve their motor functions.

Electromyographically Triggered Electrical Stimulation on Shoulder Subluxation in Hemiplegic Stroke Patients

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of electromyographically triggered electrical stimulation (ETES) on shoulder subluxation in stroke patients. METHOD: Twenty-three patients, who had hemiplegic shoulder subluxation within 3 months after stroke attack, were included. They were assigned randomly to either a control group (11 subjects) or a study group (12 subjects), and divided clinically to mild and severe subgroups by the degree in subluxation. Patients in both groups were received physical therapy and used an arm-sling. Subjects in the study group were taken ETES using biofeedback training on posterior deltoid and the supraspinatus muscle of hemiplegic subluxation side, daily 30 minutes a session, five days a week for 6 weeks. Electromyographic signals, which are derived from patient's voluntary muscle contraction, that exceeded a preset threshold trigger an immediate stimulation to force movement completion. The effect of ETES was assessed by the degree of subluxation using radiologic measurements at pre-treatment and 6 weeks post-treatment. RESULTS: In the control group, the degree of subluxation was increased after 6 weeks (p>0.05). In the study group, the subluxation was significantly reduced (p<0.05). The significant difference after treatment 6 weeks in mild and severe subgroups implied similar improvement between subgroups. CONCLUSION: The ETES may be the one of effective treatment methods for reducing the severity of hemiplegic shoulder subluxation in stroke patients.

A Controlled Study of the Effectiveness of EEG Biofeedback Training on Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Summary: In order to study the treatment of the children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (IVA-CPT) was clinically applied to evaluate the effectiveness of electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback training. Of all the 60 children with ADHD aged more than 6 years, the effective rate of EEG biofeedback training was 91.6 % after 40 sessions of EEG biofeedback training. Before and after treatment by EEG biofeedback training, the overall indexes of IVA were significantly improved among predominately inattentive, hyperactive, and combined subtype of children with ADHD (P<0.001). It was suggested that EEG biofeedback training was an effective and vital treatment on children with ADHD.

The Effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation using Biofeedback on Stress Response and Natural Killer Cell in first Clinical Practice of Nursing Students / 기본간호학회지

Increasingly nursing science is embracing the concepts and methodology derived from psycho-neuroimmunology. It has been previously shown that stress increases and immune function declines in students undergoing examinations. To date, however, no many studies have been reported on stress levels, immune function and interventions in Korean students undergoing their first clinical nursing rotation. It was proposed that nursing students during their first clinical rotation experience increase in stress because of the novelty of the situation and their lack of clinical knowledge. It was also hypothesized that biofeedback and progressive relaxation, methods of self-regulation of involuntary autonomic nervous system responses, would reduce the stress response. The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of progressive muscle laxation using biofeedback. The effectiveness of the experimental methods was tested by measuring the degree of symptoms of stress (SOS) and the values of ephinephrine, pulse rate, blood pressure and natural killer cells. The subjects of this study were thirty nursing students divided into two groups: experimental group was progressive muscle relaxation group using biofeedback and control group. This study was conducted for 8 weeks of clinical practice. Biofeedback training was done by software developed by J&J company (1-410 form for progressive muscle training). Progressive muscle relaxation training according to Jacobson's Theory was done by messaged word from biofeedback. The data was analyzed using Chronbach' alpha and t-test of the SPSS program and the significance level of statistics was 5%. The results of the study were: 1) The progressive muscle relaxation training using biofeedback was effective for the reduction of symptoms of stress (t=-4.248, p<.001) under clinical practice stress conditions. 2) The progressive muscle relaxation training using biofeedback was not effective for the values of epinephrine (t=-1.294, p=0.206). 3) The progressive muscle relaxation training using biofeedback was effective for the reduction of systolic blood pressure (t=-2.757, p=0.01). 4) The progressive muscle relaxation training using biofeedback was effective for the reduction of diastolic blood pressure (p=-2.032, p=0.05). 5) The progressive muscle relaxation training using biofeedback was not effective for the reduction of pulse rate(t=-0.15, p=0.988). 6) The progressive muscle relaxation training using biofeedback was effective for the maintenance of natural killer cells (t=2.381, p=02). The first clinical rotation for student nurses is a stressful experience as seen by the rise in the SOS in the control group. Biofeedback using progressive muscle relaxation were effective in preventing the rise of symptoms of stress and the blood pressure means when comparing the pre to post clinical experience. The mean natural killer cell count was depressed in the control group but not significantly different in the experimental groups. It is proposed here that stress via the hypothalamic - pituitary - adrenal axis suppressed the NK cell count whereas the relaxation methods prevented the rise in stress and the resulting immune depression. We recommend relaxation techniques using biofeedback as a health promotion technique to reduce psychological stress. In summary, the progressive muscle relaxation training using biofeedback was effective for the reduction of symptoms of stress under clinical practice stress conditions.

The Effect of Breathing Biofeedback Training in the Stress of Nursing Student in Clinical Practice / 기본간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of breathing biofeedback training on the stress of nursing students in clinical practice. The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The subjects of this study were 39 nursing students from the College of Nursing of K University. The study was conducted from July 20 to September 3, 1998. The subjects were assigned to one of two groups : the experimental group (19 students), and the control group (20 students). The breathing biofeedback training was performed 12 times with the experimental group. The level of psychological stress was measured using the State Anxiety Inventory, Profile of Mood State, and Visual Analogue Stress Scale. The level of physiological stress was measured using pulse rate and blood pressure. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, x2-test, t-test, and repeated measures of ANOVA. The results of study are as follows : 1) State anxiety scores were not significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after the biofeedback training. 2) Profile of mood state scores were not significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after the biofeedback training. 3) Visual Analogue Stress Scale scores were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after the biofeedback training(F=11.68, p=0.002). 4) Pulse rates were not significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after the biofeedback training. 5) Systolic blood pressures were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after the biofeedback training(F=5.44, p=0.025). 6) Diastolic blood pressures were not significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after the biofeedback training. On the basis of the above findings, the following recommendations for further study are made ; 1) Identification of the effects of breathing biofeedback training at times of high stress during clinical practice. 2) Identification of the effects of stress reduction according to the frequency of the breathing biofeedback training.