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Italian Experience of Electromyographic‐Biofeedback Treatment of Episodic Common Migraine: Preliminary Results
Author(s) -
Grazzi Licia,
Bussone Gennaro
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1993.hed3308439.x
Subject(s) - migraine , biofeedback , medicine , electromyography , physical therapy , relaxation (psychology) , muscle tension , physical medicine and rehabilitation , anesthesia , tension headache
SYNOPSIS Electromyographic biofeedback is commonly used successfully to treat tension‐type headache, while thermal biofeedback is considered the best behavioral therapy for migraine. Ten female patients with episodic common migraine (age 20‐35 years, age of disease onset 16.2 ± 5.1 years, illness duration 13.6 ± 10.7 years) were treated by 16 twice‐weekly electromyographic biofeedback and relaxation training sessions with breathing exercises. Follow‐up sessions were held 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the end of treatment. A significant decrease in migraine episodes was noted after therapy. More importantly, pain episodes continued to decline up to the last follow‐up 12 months later. Electromyographic activity was within the normal range throughout treatment and follow‐up, and there was no relationship between electromyographic activity and pain index. It is concluded that the results, particularly after a year's follow‐up, are encouraging for the use of this technique to treat migraine. However, the behavioral changes and increased well‐being did not correlate with muscular tension. Control of breathing, peripheral temperature and muscle activity are probably important common factors mediating learned ability to influence sympathetic activity; it is probably the latter which leads to reduced pain in migraine patients.