Long-term efficacy of EMG biofeedback for chronic rheumatic back pain.

Short-term effects of EMG biofeedback for chronic rheumatic back pain have been documented, however, the long-term efficacy of this treatment modality has not yet been established. Twenty-two patients of an original sample of 24 patients who participated in a treatment outcome study [6] were followed up 2.5 years after they had been treated with either EMG biofeedback, pseudotherapy, or conventional medical treatment alone. The results indicate that patients treated with EMG biofeedback maintained beneficial effects and differ significantly from the control groups both on behavioral and cognitive responses to the pain, but not global pain intensity ratings. These data support the long-term utility of biofeedback for chronic rheumatic back pain.