Comparative Study Between Auditory, Visual and Combined EMG Biofeedback in Management of Patients with Tension type Headache Bembalgi Veena1, Naik Karkal Ravishankar2 1Assistant Professor, KLES College of Physiotherapy, Hubli 2Professor and Head, Department of Neurology, JKLE University's, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, India Online published on 31 October, 2012. Abstract Background Tension-type headache (TTH) is the commonest primary headache.Electromyography (EMG) biofeedback (BF) is considered an effective therapy for tension-type headaches.Comparative effects of auditory and visual EMG biofeedback have not been systematically studied in TTH.The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of EMG BF with audio, visual and integrated BF on headache and quality-of-life in subjects with TTH. Methods Subjects with TTH fulfilling the International Headache Society criteria were selected by random sampling and allocated into EMG audio feedback (EMG-a),visual feedback (EMG-v) and integrated audiovisual feedback (EMG-av) groups.They underwent EMG BF therapy for fifteen sessions of thirty minutes each.The headache (pain) variables and SF-36(Quality of life) scores were documented at baseline, one month and three months after commencement of EMG BF therapy. Results All groups showed significant improvements in all pain variables.Improvements were also seen in the total,physical and mental scores of SF-36 scores in first and third month follow-up (p<0.05). Inter-group analysis revealed significant differences between the three groups (p<0.05) with EMG audio-visual BF showing more significant improvement in the pain variables.EMG-av BF group also showed highest improvement in SF-36 scores at first and third month follow up.EMG audio group showed significant improvement in the intensity parameter of pain variable at the third month follow-up. Conclusion Auditory, visual and integrated auditory-visual EMG biofeedbacks are effective in treatment of TTH with most benefit seen with combined feedback. Top Keywords Tension Type Headache, EMG Biofeedback, Audio Biofeedback, Visual Biofeedback, SF-36. Top |