Biofeedback
Nannen & Harte Physical Therapy has recently added a new treatment modality
called biofeedback. With this treatment we place electrodes onto your skin
surface near your muscles. This measures the natural body signals that are
present when muscles are active.
A computer program produces a visual graphic that allows patients to learn to control the activation or relaxation of individual muscles. By coupling the biofeedback with exercise, we can teach you how to change movement patterns, “fix” abnormal mechanics, and learn to make exercise more effective.
We primarily use biofeedback for bowel and bladder health and headache treatments, but have also used it successfully in rehabilitating all joints from the shoulder to the knee, by building strength and controlling tone.
•
Relieve Headaches
We continue to have great success in treating tension, cervical, migraine
and cluster headaches. Biofeedback is used with some patients in our headache
program. It aids the patient to learn to relax the paraspinal muscles often
associated with tension headaches.
It is also utilized as a teaching aid for patients with forward head posture.
• Improve Bowel and Bladder Health
Biofeedback is beneficial to those with problems with leaking, wetting,
constipation, erectile dysfunction and other pelvic floor abnormalities.
Muscle inactivity or imbalance is often present with these conditions. Patients
have often lost the ability to control these muscles and cannot voluntarily
find them no matter how hard they try.
Exercise with biofeedback is a great way to activate these muscles.
• Post Operative Uses
Biofeedback is especially useful following surgery on any joint, particularly
knees, shoulders, and ankles. This type of modality helps patients see that
they are using the correct muscle group with each exercise and ensures that
they are performing the exercises correctly. The computer also helps the
patient see and measure the daily exercise effort and the overall progress
they are making .
"I wish someone would have mentioned Physical Therapy treatment in combination with medicine long ago."