Biofeedback Laboratory for Neuromuscular Re-education
The Biofeedback Laboratory for Neuromuscular Re-education at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital's Outpatient Therapy Center provides services for the purpose of restoring and enhancing function in adult and pediatric patients with neuromuscular deficits from central nervous system damage. Biofeedback is a modality based on the theory of operant conditioning. Our model is designed to teach an individual to use motor cells in the brain, brain stem, and spinal cord more efficiently using state-of-the-art technology. The increases in voluntary motor muscle control are applied to gait and functional training. Our goal is to restore our patients' hope and freedom by bridging the gap between neuroscience and rehabilitation to improve quality of life.
Services Summarized
We provide a comprehensive evaluation by a trained biofeedback therapist from which a plan of care is established. The NeuroEDUCATOR3 Electromyography (EMG) Biofeedback System is designed for neuromuscular therapy aimed at returning or improving voluntary muscle control. Through visual and auditory feedback and neuro facilitation, the patient learns how to reproduce, maintain, and control EMG responses for maximum improvement in muscle function. This feedback, combined with behavioral conditioning techniques, helps the patient to re-educate his or her muscles and apply this education to enhance strength and functional progress.
Services Include
Treatment modality used for inpatients and outpatients
Comprehensive evaluation
Individualized plan of care focused on functional improvement
Biofeedback training sessions
Communication with Therapy Services
Recommendations
Who Uses These Services
Patients with neurological disabilities that are most commonly, but not exclusively, the result of:
Spinal cord injury
Stroke
Cerebral palsy
Spina bifida
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Encephalitis
Polio/post-polio
Myelitis
Bell's palsy
Brain injury
Services Explained
To be seen, a patient must first be evaluated by a physician who writes a prescription.
Comprehensive evaluation - A trained physical therapist or occupational therapist will assess upper and lower extremity function, functional activities of daily living, balance, and gait.
Individualized plan of care - According to the patient's goals and findings from the evaluation, the therapist will determine the appropriate therapeutic steps to maximize learning for optimal recovery of function.
Biofeedback training sessions - Surface electrodes are placed over muscles with limited or no function. The computer equipment continuously reads the patient's neuromuscular signals to provide accurate and instantaneous feedback. Up to four channels can be processed simultaneously, in real time, with no discernible delay between the EMG response and the display of the response. This gives the patient the immediate feedback vital for successful operant conditioning. The wide selection of graphics and audio options provides the patient with feedback and goals that are easily understood.
Communication with Therapy Services - Our biofeedback therapists will provide a written plan to additional therapy services with which the patient may be receiving treatment. This measure facilitates continuity of care and a team approach.
Recommendations - Our program encourages follow-up or congruent physical and/or occupational therapy services to reinforce the neuropathways that are used through the biofeedback operant learning procedure and achieve functional carry over.