Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biofeedback in the Management of Chronic Pain Syndromes

  • Chapter
Biofeedback

Abstract

Chronic pain is a major medical problem. Treatments for chronic pain represent a major portion of medical costs. Costs include payments for hospitalization and outpatient treatments, workmen’s compensation and disability payments, and time lost from work. These costs are staggering and growing rapidly. The estimated cost in the United States for only one of these disorders, low back pain, is one billion dollars per year (Bonica, 1980).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Achterberg, J., McGraw, P., and Lawlis, G. F. (1981). Rheumatoid arthritis: A study of relaxation and temperature biofeedback training as an adjunctive therapy. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 6, 207–223.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Balick, L., Elfner, L., May, J., and Moore, J. D. (1982). Biofeedback treatment of dysmenorrhea. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 7, 499–519.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Belar, C. D., and Cohen, J. L. (1979). The use of EMG feedback and progressive relaxation in the treatment of a woman with chronic back pain. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 4, 345–353.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bennink, C. D., Hulst, L. L., and Benthem, J. A. (1982). The effects of EMG biofeedback and relaxation training on primary dysmenorrhea. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 5, 329–341.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bergner, M., Bobbitt, R. A., Kressel, S., Pollard, W. E., Gilson, B. S., and Morris, J. R. (1976). The sickness impact profile: Conceptual formulation and methodology for the development of a health status measure. International Journal of Health Services, 6, 393–415.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blanchard, E. B. (1979). The use of temperature biofeedback in the treatment of chronic pain due to causalgia. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 4, 183–188.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bonica, J. J. (1977). Neurophysiological and pathologic aspects of acute and chronic pain. Archives of Surgery, 112, 750–761.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bonica, J. J. (1980). Introduction. In J. J. Bonica (Ed.), Pain (pp. 1–17 ). New York: Raven Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caillet, R. (1968). Low back pain syndrome. Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cinciripini, P. M., and Floreen, A. (1982). An evaluation of a behavioral program for chronic pain. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 5, 375–389.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cram, J. R., and Steger, J. C. (1983). EMG scanning in the diagnosis of chronic pain. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 8, 229–242.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dega, R. A. (1983) Conservative therapy for low back pain. Journal of the American Medical Association, 250, 1057–1062.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dietvorst, T. F., and Osborne, D. (1978). Biofeedback-assisted relaxation training for primary dysmenorrhea: A case study. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 3, 301–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernando, C. K., and Basmajian, J. V. (1978). Biofeedback in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 3, 435–455.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flor, H., Haag, G., Turk, D. C., and Koehler, H. (1983). Efficacy of EMG biofeedback, pseudotherapy, and conventional medical treatment for chronic rheumatic back pain. Pain, 17, 21–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flor, H. and Turk, D. C., and Koehler, H. (1984). Etiological theories and treatments for chronic back pain: 1. Somatic models and interventions, Pain, 19, 105–122.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fordyce, W. E. (1976). Behavioral methods for chronic pain and illness. St. Louis, MO: C. V. Mosby.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fotopolous, S. S., and Sunderland, W. P. (1978). Biofeedback in the treatment of psycho-physiologic disorders. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 3, 331–361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, C. W., Calsyn, D. A., Paige, A. B., and Halar, E. M. (1980). Biofeedback with low back pain patients. American Journal of Clinical Biofeedback, 3, 118–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gentry, W. D., and Bernal, G. A. A. (1977). Chronic pain. In R. B. Williams and W. D. Gentry (Eds.), Behavioral approaches to medical treatment (pp. 173–182 ). Cambridge, MA: Ballinger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottlieb, H., Strite, L. C., Koller, R., Madorsky, A., Hockersmith, V., Kleeman, M., and Wagner, J. (1977). Comprehensive rehabilitation of patients having chronic low back pain. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 58, 101–108.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hart, A. D., Mathisen, K. S., and Prater, J. S. (1981). A comparison of skin temperature and EMG training for primary dysmenorrhea. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 6, 367–373.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heczey, M. D. (1980). Effects of biofeedback and autogenic training on dysmenorrhea. In D. A. Grahan and E. Beecher (Eds.), Menstrual cycle: Synthesis of inter-disciplinary research. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendler, N., Derogatis, L., Avella, J., and Long, D. (1977). EMG biofeedback in patients with chronic pain. Diseases of the Nervous System, 38, 505–509.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hirsch, C. (1965). Efficacy of surgery in low back disorders. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 47, 991–1000.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoelscher, T. J., Lichstein, K. L., and Rosenthal, T. L. (1984). Objective vs subjective assessment of relaxation compliance among anxious individuals. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 22, 187–193.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoelscher, T. J., Lichstein, K. L., and Rosenthal, T. L. (1986). Home relaxation practice in hypertension treatment: Objective assessment and compliance induction. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 217–221.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, A. L., and Wolf, S. L. (1980). EMG biofeedback training during movement. Physical Therapy, 60, 58–63.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keefe, F. J. (1982). Behavioral assessment and treatment of chronic pain: Current status and future directions. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 50, 896–911.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keefe, F. J., Block, A. R., Williams, R. B., and Surwit, R. S. (1981). Behavioral treatment of chronic low back pain: Clinical outcome and individual differences in pain relief. Pain, 11, 221–231.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keefe, F. J., Schapira, B., Williams, R. B., Brown, C., and Surwit, R. S. (1981). EMG-assisted relaxation training in the management of chronic low back pain. American Journal of Clinical Biofeedback, 4, 93–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khatami, M., and Rush, A. J. (1978). A pilot study of the treatment of outpatients with chronic pain: Symptom control, stimulus control, and social system intervention. Pain, 5, 163–172.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khatami, M., and Rush, A. J. (1982). A one year follow-up of the multimodal treatment for chronic pain. Pain, 14, 45–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khatami, M., Woody, G., and O’Brien, C. (1979). Chronic pain and narcotic addiction: A multitherapeutic approach-a pilot study. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 20, 55–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kremer, E., Block, A., and Gaylor, M. (1981). Behavioral approaches to chronic pain: The inaccuracy of patient self-report measure. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 62, 188–191.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MacNab, I. (1977). Backache. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melzack, R., and Perry, C. (1975). Self-regulation of pain: The use of alpha-feedback and hypnotic training for the control of chronic pain. Experimental Neurology, 46, 452–469.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Melzack, R., and Torgerson, W. S. (1971). On the language of pain. Anaesthesiology, 34, 50–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagi, S. Z., Riley, L. E., and Newby, L. C. (1973). A social epidemiology of back pain in a general population. Journal of Chronic Disease, 26, 769–779.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newman, R. I., Seres, J. L., Yospe, L. P., and Garlington, B. (1978). Multidisciplinary treatment of chronic pain: Long-term follow-up of low-back pain patients. Pain, 4, 283–292.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nigl, A. J., and Fischer-Williams, M. (1980). Treatment of low back strain with electromyographic biofeedback and relaxation training. Psychosomatics, 21, 492–499.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nouwen, A. (1983). EMG biofeedback used to reduce standing levels of paraspinal muscle tension in chronic low back pain. Pain, 17, 353–360.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nouwen, A., and Solinger, J. W. (1979). The effectiveness of EMG biofeedback training in low back pain. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 4, 103–111.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patel, C. H. (1975). Yoga and biofeedback in the management of “stress” in hypertensive patients. Clinical Science and Molecular Medicine, 48, 171–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peck, C. L., and Kraft, G. H. (1977). Electromyographic biofeedback for pain related to muscle tension. Archives of Surgery, 112, 889–895.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, S. H. (1980). Toward a practical instrument for the automatic measurement of “uptime” in chronic pain patients. Pain, 9, 103–109.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, S. H. (1983). Component analysis of a behavioral treatment program for chronic low back pain. Behavior Therapy, 5, 697–705.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sedlacek, K., and Heczey, M. (1977). A specific biofeedback treatment for dysmenorrhea. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 2, 294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seres, J. L., and Newman, R. I. (1976). Results of treatment of chronic low back pain at the Portland Pain Center. Journal of Neurosurgery, 45, 32–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, R. A. (1976). Case reports of treatment of phantom limb pain with a combination of electromyographic biofeedback and verbal relaxation techniques. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 1, 353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, R. A., Gall, N., and Gormly, J. (1979). Treatment of phantom limb pain with muscular relaxation training to disrupt the pain-anxiety tension cycle. Pain, 6, 47–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, D. W., Swenson, W. M., Maruta, T., and McPhee, M. C. (1976). Program for managing chronic pain. I. Program description and characteristics of patients. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 51, 401–408.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, D. W., Maruta, T., and Swenson, W. M. (1979). Results of behavior modification in the treatment of chronic pain. Psychosomatic Medicine, 41, 55–65.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, C. B, Agras, W. S., Schneider, J. A., and Allen, R. A. (1983). Adherence to instructions to practice relaxation exercises. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51, 952–953.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Todd, J., and Belar, C. D. (1980). EMG biofeedback and chronic low back pain: Implications of treatment failure. American Journal of Clinical Biofeedback, 3, 114–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toomey, T. C., Taylor, A. G., Skelton, J. A., and Carron, H. (1982). Five year follow-up status of chronic low back pain patients. In M. Stanton-Hicks and R. A. Boas (Eds.). Chronic low back pain (pp. 25–38 ). New York: Raven Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tubbs, W., and Carnahan, C. (1976). Clinical biofeedback for primary dysmenorrhea. A pilot study. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 1, 323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turk, D. C. and Flor, H. (1984). Etiological theories and treatments for chronic backpain. 2. Psychological models and intervention. Pain, 19, 209–234.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. A. (1982). Comparison of group progressive-relaxation training and cognitive-behavioral group therapy for chronic low back pain. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 50, 757–766.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Urban, B. J. (1982). Therapeutic aspects in chronic pain: Modulation of nocioception, alleniation of suffering, and behavioral analysis. Behavior Therapy, 13, 430–437.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wickramasekera, I., Truong, X. T., Bush, M., and Orr, C. (1976). The management of rheumatoid arthritic pain: Preliminary observations. In I. Wickramasekera, S. T. Truong, M. Bush, and C. Orr (Eds.). Biofeedback, behavior therapy, and hypnosis: Potentiating the verbal control of behavior for clinicians (pp. 47–55 ). New York: Nelson-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, S. L., Basmajian, J. V., Russe, C. T. C., and Kutner, M. (1979). Normative data on low back motility and activity levels: Implications for neuromuscular reeducation. American Journal of Physical Medicine, 58, 217–229.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, S. L., Nacht, M., and Kelly, J. L. (1982). EMG feedback training during dynamic movement for low back pain patients. Behavior Therapy, 13, 395–406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3926, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Francis J. Keefe & Timothy J. Hoelscher

Authors
  1. Francis J. Keefe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Timothy J. Hoelscher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA

    John P. Hatch , Johnnie G. Fisher  & John D. Rugh ,  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1987 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Keefe, F.J., Hoelscher, T.J. (1987). Biofeedback in the Management of Chronic Pain Syndromes. In: Hatch, J.P., Fisher, J.G., Rugh, J.D. (eds) Biofeedback. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9462-5_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9462-5_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9464-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9462-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation