COMPARISON OF THE EFFICACY OF ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC BIOFEEDBACK, COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, AND CONSERVATIVE MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN

In this study, three types of treatments for chronic musculoskeletal P ain were compared. Fifty-seven patients who suffered from chronic back pain and 21 patients who suffered from temporomandibular pain and dys function were randomly assigned to either electromyographic (EMG) biof eedback, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or conservative medical treatme nt. At posttreatment, improvements were noted in all three treatment g roups, with the biofeedback group displaying the most substantial chan ge. At the 6- and 24-month follow-up, only the biofeedback group maint ained significant reductions in pain severity, interference, affective distress, pain-related use of the health care system, stress-related reactivity of the affected muscles, and an increase in active coping s elf-statements. Treatment outcome was predicted by chronicity and trea tment-specific variables. Analysis of attrition showed a significant e ffect for therapist and extent of somatic pathology Results suggest th at pain patients who suffer from musculoskeletal pain problems and dis play few physical disabilities may profit the most from short-term EMG biofeedback treatment.