Myofeedback

Muscles emit small electrical signals. Myofeedback measures a muscle's electrical signal using electrodes. Myofeedback, or 'muscle feedback', in this way provides information about a muscle's activity at rest and during movement.

How does myofeedback work?

An examination with myofeedback indicates whether a muscle is relaxed or very tense. A signal makes the level of muscle activity visible and/or audible. Myofeedback closely resembles the test we call electromyography, also known as EMG examination.

Myofeedback can be used as a supplement to the physical examination, but also during treatment. In the examination, a physiotherapist looks at whether a muscle has too high or too low a tension and whether this is causing the symptoms.

During treatment, work is then done on consciously contracting or relaxing the relevant muscle(s). This is done with the help of the feedback that the device provides, followed by (relaxation) exercises and further advice. Over time, the right balance should be restored, even without using the myofeedback device.

Pelvic physiotherapists regularly use myofeedback to measure the activity of the pelvic floor muscles. But it is also a useful tool for people who, for example, sit very tensely at their desk and thereby develop neck and back symptoms. Here, it is also very important to look at posture and the workstation and make adjustments if necessary.

There are also portable myofeedback devices. The advantage is that these can be worn during daily activities. In this way, they measure muscle tension over a longer period of time.