Evaluation of electromyographic biofeedback as an adjunct to therapeutic exercise in treating the lower extremities of hemiplegic patients

The following controlled, preliminary investigation was designed to determine whether electromyographic biofeedback, in conjunction with therapeutic exer-cise, could influence the reacquisition of functional lower extremity movements in chronic hemiplegic patients. Both the control (standardized therapeutic ex-ercise regimen) and experimental (therapeutic exercise regimen combined with electromyographic biofeedback) groups improved in ankle active range of mo-tion; only the experimental group significantly shortened its timed ambulation over a carpeted surface. One patient in the experimental group who was given 12 additional training sessions showed further gains in knee and ankle joint angle measurements during walking. The apparent potential for rehabilitation of chronic hemiplegic patients and the benefits afforded to physical therapists from a standardized therapeutic exercise protocol are discussed. Key Words: Hemiplegia, Biofeedback, Exercise therapy, Gait, Physical therapy. The restoration of function following damage to the CNS is a difficult and challenging problem fo