Effects of Electromyography Biofeedback-Assisted Relaxation on Pain in Patients With Advanced Cancer in a Palliative Care Unit

Abstract

Most patients with advanced cancer experience pain. However, many cancer patients do not find satisfaction with conventional treatment of pain relief. This study examined the effect of electromyography (EMG) biofeedback-assisted relaxation on cancer-related pain in advanced cancer patients. We hypothesized that changes in EMG activity in frontal muscles underlie the efficacy of EMG biofeedback-assisted relaxation. This was a randomized control study. The experimental group (n = 12) received 6 EMG biofeedback-assisted relaxation sessions over a 4-week period, whereas the control group (n = 12) received conventional care. The primary efficacy measure was the level of pain, measured by the Brief Pain Inventory. Findings from this study show that relaxation training supplemented with visual and auditory EMG biofeedback signals is effective in reducing cancer-related pain in advanced cancer patients, possibly through a mechanism of attenuation of physiological arousal. Electromyography biofeedback-assisted relaxation training may be used along with medications for effective pain management in patients with advanced cancer.

A systematic review: non‐pharmacological interventions in treating pain in patients with advanced cancer

“…, Tsai et al . , Yamamoto & Nagata ). Whether the allocation sequence was concealed was not clear in four of the RCTs because concealment was not described (Tsai et al .…”

“…Whether the allocation sequence was concealed was not clear in four of the RCTs because concealment was not described (Tsai et al . , Bennett et al . , Yamamoto & Nagata , Lopez‐Sendin et al .…”

“…In four of the RCTs, the blinding process remained unclear because it was not described and in one study, the blinding was not achieved (Tsai et al . , Bennett et al . , Lim et al .…”

Mind-Body Treatments for the Pain-Fatigue-Sleep Disturbance Symptom Cluster in Persons with Cancer

“…Significantly greater pain relief was obtained with PMR when compared to massage, treatment-as-usual (33), positive mood manipulation, distraction, and a no treatment control condition (34). Biofeedback-assisted relaxation resulted in greater pain relief when compared to attention control (e.g., time spent with a nurse) (35). Domar, Noe & Benson (36), however, found no significant differences in pain between a daily relaxation exercise and a distraction condition among patients having surgical skin cancer resection.…”

Mind–Body Therapies in Integrative Oncology

“…In Biofeedback therapy, instruments measure physiological activity such as brainwaves, heart function, breathing, muscle activity, and skin temperature, and these instruments provide ''feed back'' information to the user. The presentation of this information-often in conjunction with changes in thinking, emotions, and behavior-supports desired physiological changes; Biofeedbackassisted relaxation was shown to reduce cancer-related pain compared to attention control [20]. • A study conducted in 1992 comparing two separate modalities of biofeedback-relaxation therapy and relaxation therapy in combination with biofeedback-for the treatment of chemotherapy-related nausea found reductions only in the conditions involving relaxation therapy [21].…”