The effects of training using EMG biofeedback on stroke patients upper extremity functions

[Purpose] While electromyography (EMG) biofeedback has been recently used in diverse therapeutic interventions for stroke patients, research on its effects has been lacking. Most existing studies are confined to functions of the lower extremities, and research on upper extremity functional recovery using EMG biofeedback training is limited. Therefore, this study examined the effects of training using EMG biofeedback on stroke patients’ upper extremity functions. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects of this study included 30 hemiplegia patients whose disease duration was longer than six months. They were randomly divided into a control group (n=15) receiving traditional rehabilitation therapy and an experimental group (n=15) receiving both traditional rehabilitation therapy and training using EMG biofeedback. The program lasted for a total of four weeks. In order to examine the subjects’ functional recovery, the author measured their upper limb function using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment and Manual Function Test, and activities of daily living using the Functional Independence Measure before and after training. [Results] A comparison of the study groups revealed that those in the experimental group experienced greater improvement in upper extremity function after training in all tests compared to the control group; however, there was no significant difference in terms of the activities of daily living between the two groups. The results of this study were as follows. [Conclusion] Thus, stroke patients receiving intensive EMG biofeedback showed more significant upper extremity functional recovery than those who only received traditional rehabilitation therapy.