title: Relevance of muscular sensitivity, muscular activity, and cognitive variables for pain reduction associated with EMG biofeedback in fibromyalgia.
abstract: 18 patients suffering from primary fibromyalgia received nine training sessions using EMG biofeedback over a period of four weeks. Pre- and posttreatment measurement of the baseline EMG activity of the trapezius, muscular sensitivity, and cognitive variables (helplessness and belief of control) were taken. Analysis indicated a significant reduction occurred in general intensity of pain and in EMG activity as well as a significant increase in muscular sensitivity. Multiple regression analyses indicated that the increase in muscular sensitivity correlated with the decrease of EMG activity in the trapezius baseline. Self-reported pain reduction was predicted by a change in cognitive variables.
authors.affiliation: Psychologisches Institut, Universität Bonn, Germany. sarnoch@uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sarnoch
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: O B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Scholz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation*; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000503:physiopathology; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D012803:Sick Role