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International Journal of Environmental... Feb 2022To determine the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) with or without biofeedback or electrostimulation in reducing urinary incontinence and pelvic floor... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
To determine the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) with or without biofeedback or electrostimulation in reducing urinary incontinence and pelvic floor muscle con-traction in non-pregnant women with urinary incontinence.
METHODS
The following electronic databases were searched: PubMed, Cochrane Central, ClinicalTrials.gov, EU Clinical Trials Register, and sources from NICE, FDA, EMA, and SMC (articles only in English, 2000-2021). Search terms were: urinary incontinence, pelvic floor muscle training or exercises, biofeedback, electrostimulation. We used the PRISMA statement (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) for this systematic review. Relevant articles were selected, data were extracted, and quality was assessed. Data were extracted in predesigned form, followed by narrative synthesis.
RESULTS
Following the search, 15 RCTs were retrieved using the strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, assessing 2441 non-pregnant women with urinary incontinence. Of the 15 studies, 7 were low risk, 5 were medium risk, and 3 were high-risk studies. Of the 2441 patients, 970 were in PFMT, 69 were in extracorporeal magnetic innervation (ExMi) or with PFMT + BF, 30 were in electrostimulation (ES), 21 were in whole body vibration training (WBVT), 23 were in pelvic floor muscle + abdominal muscle therapy (PFM + AMT), 326 were in PFMT + biofeedback, 93 were in vaginal cones (VC), 362 were in PFMT + education, 318 were in education, and 229 were in control groups. The most often measures employed were pad tests, bladder diary, and questionnaire on the quality of life. Stress, urge and mixed urinary incontinence were studied. In all RCT, PFMT significantly reduced urinary incontinence, essentially SIU and MUI, when compared with the control group before and after treatment. Overall, out of 997 PFMT or PFMT + education patients, 504 patients (50.5%) showed improvement in urinary incontinence, and 218 became continent (21.8%) (negative pad test). In total, 62% of patients significantly reduced their urinary incontinence or cured it and improved their pelvic floor muscle contraction. All other physiotherapist techniques also significantly reduced urinary leakages, e.g., vaginal cones, biofeedback, ExMI, and WBVT when compared with the control group. There were no significant differences between these methods in reducing the severity of urinary incontinence.
CONCLUSION
PFMT alone or with bio-feedback or electrostimulation was effective in reducing urinary incontinence and improving pelvic floor muscle contraction. PFMT when compared with other interventions such as bio-feedback, VC, and WBVT did not show significant differences but was superior to the control group. RCT studies with similar parameters used for measuring the outcomes need to be included.
Topics: Biofeedback, Psychology; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Exercise Therapy; Female; Humans; Pelvic Floor; Quality of Life; Treatment Outcome; Urinary Incontinence; Urinary Incontinence, Stress
PubMed: 35270480
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052789 -
Current Gastroenterology Reports Aug 2020Low anterior resection syndrome is a highly prevalent condition that can develop after anal sphincter-sparing surgery for rectal cancer and impair quality of life. In... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Low anterior resection syndrome is a highly prevalent condition that can develop after anal sphincter-sparing surgery for rectal cancer and impair quality of life. In this review, we summarize the major features and pathophysiology of this syndrome and discuss treatment approaches.
RECENT FINDINGS
Quality of life correlates significantly with severity of low anterior resection syndrome. Prompt assessment and initiation of therapy are essential to rehabilitating damaged mechanical and neural structures. Anorectal manometry demonstrates a global decrease in sphincteric function postoperatively, though in many patients, function does recover. Transanal irrigation, pelvic floor rehabilitation, and biofeedback are the mainstays of the treatment of major LARS. Definitive stoma can be considered in therapy refractory LARS > 2 years. The development of low anterior resection syndrome likely involves an interplay between mechanical and neural pathways. Clinically, patients present at varying levels of severity, and scoring systems are available to help assess patient symptoms and guide therapy. Treatment approaches range from conservative therapies to biofeedback and sacral nerve stimulation. Future randomized controlled trials aimed at risk stratification of patients and development of severity-based treatment algorithms are warranted.
Topics: Anal Canal; Biofeedback, Psychology; Constipation; Diet; Fecal Incontinence; Humans; Manometry; Organ Sparing Treatments; Postoperative Complications; Quality of Life; Rectal Neoplasms; Risk Factors; Syndrome; Therapeutic Irrigation
PubMed: 32749603
DOI: 10.1007/s11894-020-00785-z -
Psychological Medicine Jan 2022For many years, biofeedback and neurofeedback have been implemented in the treatment of depression. However, the effectiveness of these techniques on depressive... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
For many years, biofeedback and neurofeedback have been implemented in the treatment of depression. However, the effectiveness of these techniques on depressive symptomatology is still controversial. Hence, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies extracted from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Embase.
METHODS
Two different strings were considered for each of the two objectives of the study: A first group comprising studies patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and a second group including studies targeting depressive symptomatology reduction in other mental or medical conditions.
RESULTS
In the first group of studies including patients with MDD, the within-group analyses yielded an effect size of Hedges' g = 0.717, while the between-group analysis an effect size of Hedges' g = 1.050. Moderator analyses indicate that treatment efficacy is only significant when accounting for experimental design, in favor of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in comparison to non RCTs, whereas the type of neurofeedback, trial design, year of publication, number of sessions, age, sex and quality of study did not influence treatment efficacy. In the second group of studies, a small but significant effect between groups was found (Hedges' g = 0.303) in favor of bio- and neurofeedback against control groups. Moderator analyses revealed that treatment efficacy was not moderated by any of the sociodemographic and clinical variables.
CONCLUSIONS
Heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback and neurofeedback are associated with a reduction in self-reported depression. Despite the fact that the field has still a large room for improvement in terms of research quality, the results presented in this study suggests that both modalities may become relevant complementary strategies for the treatment of MDD and depressive symptomatology in the coming years.
Topics: Depression; Depressive Disorder, Major; Heart Rate; Humans; Neurofeedback; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34776024
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291721004396 -
JMIR MHealth and UHealth Apr 2021Connected mental health, which refers to the use of technology for mental health care and technology-based therapeutic solutions, has become an established field of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Connected mental health, which refers to the use of technology for mental health care and technology-based therapeutic solutions, has become an established field of research. Biofeedback is one of the approaches used in connected mental health solutions, which is mainly based on the analysis of physiological indicators for the assessment and management of the psychological state. Biofeedback is recommended by many therapists and has been used for conditions including depression, insomnia, and anxiety. Anxiety is associated with several physiological symptoms, including muscle tension and breathing issues, which makes the inclusion of biofeedback useful for anxiety detection and management.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to identify interventions using biofeedback as a part of their process for anxiety management and investigate their perceived effectiveness.
METHODS
A systematic literature review of publications presenting empirically evaluated biofeedback-based interventions for anxiety was conducted. The systematic literature review was based on publications retrieved from IEEE Digital Library, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus. A preliminary selection of papers was identified, examined, and filtered to include only relevant publications. Studies in the final selection were classified and analyzed to extract the modalities of use of biofeedback in the identified interventions, the types of physiological data that were collected and analyzed and the sensors used to collect them. Processes and outcomes of the empirical evaluations were also extracted.
RESULTS
After final selection, 13 publications presenting different interventions were investigated. The interventions addressed either primarily anxiety disorders or anxiety associated with health issues such as migraine, Parkinson disease, and rheumatology. Solutions combined biofeedback with other techniques including virtual reality, music therapy, games, and relaxation practices and used different sensors including cardiovascular belts, wrist sensors, or stretch sensors to collect physiological data such as heart rate, respiration indicators, and movement information. The interventions targeted different cohorts including children, students, and patients. Overall, outcomes from the empirical evaluations yielded positive results and emphasized the effectiveness of connected mental health solutions using biofeedback for anxiety; however, certain unfavorable outcomes, such as interventions not having an effect on anxiety and patients' preferring traditional therapy, were reported in studies addressing patients with specific physical health issues.
CONCLUSIONS
The use of biofeedback in connected mental health interventions for the treatment and management of anxiety allows better screening and understanding of both psychological and physiological patient information, as well as of the association between the two. The inclusion of biofeedback could improve the outcome of interventions and boost their effectiveness; however, when used with patients suffering from certain physical health issues, suitability investigations are needed.
Topics: Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Biofeedback, Psychology; Child; Humans; Mental Health; Students
PubMed: 33792548
DOI: 10.2196/26038 -
Revue Neurologique Nov 2021In recent years, neurofeedback has been used as a cognitive training tool to improve brain functions for clinical or recreational purposes. It is based on providing... (Review)
Review
In recent years, neurofeedback has been used as a cognitive training tool to improve brain functions for clinical or recreational purposes. It is based on providing participants with feedback about their brain activity and training them to control it, initiating directional changes. The overarching hypothesis behind this method is that this control results in an enhancement of the cognitive abilities associated with this brain activity, and triggers specific structural and functional changes in the brain, promoted by learning and neuronal plasticity effects. Here, we review the general methodological principles behind neurofeedback and we describe its behavioural benefits in clinical and experimental contexts. We review the non-specific effects of neurofeedback on the reinforcement learning striato-frontal networks as well as the more specific changes in the cortical networks on which the neurofeedback control is exerted. Last, we analyse the current challenges faces by neurofeedback studies, including the quantification of the temporal dynamics of neurofeedback effects, the generalisation of its behavioural outcomes to everyday life situations, the design of appropriate controls to disambiguate placebo from true neurofeedback effects and the development of more advanced cortical signal processing to achieve a finer-grained real-time modelling of cognitive functions.
Topics: Brain; Brain Mapping; Cognition; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neurofeedback; Neuronal Plasticity
PubMed: 34674879
DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2021.08.004 -
Advances in Therapy Aug 2021Electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BF) can be regarded as an adjuvant to pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training (PFMT) for the management of stress urinary incontinence... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BF) can be regarded as an adjuvant to pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training (PFMT) for the management of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of PFMT with and without EMG-BF on the cure and improvement rate, PFM strength, urinary incontinence score, and quality of sexual life for the treatment of SUI or pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Wanfang, and CNKI were systematically searched for studies published up to January 2021. The outcomes were the cure and improvement rate, symptom-related score, pelvic floor muscle strength change, and sexual life quality. Twenty-one studies (comprising 1967 patients with EMG-BF + PFMT and 1898 with PFMT) were included. Compared with PFMT, EMG-BF + PFMT had benefits regarding the cure and improvement rate in SUI (OR 4.82, 95% CI 2.21-10.51, P < 0.001; I = 85.3%, P < 0.001) and in PFD (OR 2.81, 95% CI 2.04-3.86, P < 0.001; I = 13.1%, P = 0.331), and in quality of life using the I-QOL tool (SMD 1.47, 95% CI 0.69-2.26, P < 0.001; I = 90.1%, P < 0.001), quality of sexual life using the FSFI tool (SMD 2.86, 95% CI 0.47-5.25, P = 0.019; I = 98.7%, P < 0.001), urinary incontinence using the ICI-Q-SF tool (SMD - 0.62, 95% CI - 1.16, - 0.08, P = 0.024), PFM strength (SMD 1.72, 95% CI 1.08-2.35, P < 0.001; I = 91.4%, P < 0.001), and urodynamics using Qmax (SMD 0.84, 95% CI 0.57-1.10, P < 0.001; I = 0%, P = 0.420) and MUCP (SMD 1.54, 95% CI 0.66-2.43, P = 0.001; I = 81.8%, P = 0.019). There was limited evidence of publication bias. PFMT combined with EMG-BF achieves better outcomes than PFMT alone in SUI or PFD management.
Topics: Biofeedback, Psychology; Electromyography; Exercise Therapy; Female; Humans; Pelvic Floor; Quality of Life; Treatment Outcome; Urinary Incontinence, Stress
PubMed: 34176082
DOI: 10.1007/s12325-021-01831-6 -
The Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology... Mar 2023About one-third of chronically constipated patients have an evacuation disorder, and dyssynergic defecation is a common cause of the evacuation disorder. In dyssynergic... (Review)
Review
About one-third of chronically constipated patients have an evacuation disorder, and dyssynergic defecation is a common cause of the evacuation disorder. In dyssynergic defecation, the coordination between abdominal and pelvic floor muscles during defecation is disrupted and patients cannot produce a normal bowel movement. The etiology of dyssynergic defecation is still unknown. Although a detailed history taking and a careful examination including digital rectal examination could be useful, other modalities such as anorectal manometry and balloon expulsion test are necessary for the diagnosis. Biofeedback therapy is one of the most effective and safe treatments. Here, we provide an overview of dyssynergic defecation as well as how to diagnose and manage this condition.
Topics: Humans; Defecation; Constipation; Manometry; Anal Canal; Biofeedback, Psychology; Digital Rectal Examination; Ataxia
PubMed: 36919830
DOI: 10.5152/tjg.2023.22148 -
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics Jun 2021Chronic constipation is a common, heterogeneous disorder with multiple symptoms and pathophysiological mechanisms. Patients are often referred to a gastroenterology... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Chronic constipation is a common, heterogeneous disorder with multiple symptoms and pathophysiological mechanisms. Patients are often referred to a gastroenterology provider after laxatives fail. However, there is limited knowledge of the spectrum and management of constipation disorders.
AIM
To discuss the latest understanding of the spectrum of constipation disorders, tools for identifying a pathophysiologic-based diagnosis in the specialist setting, treatment options and the patient's perspective of constipation.
METHODS
Literature searches were conducted using PubMed for constipation diagnostic criteria, diagnostic tools and approved treatments. The authors provided insight from their own practices.
RESULTS
Clinical assessment, stool diaries and Rome IV diagnostic criteria can facilitate diagnosis, evaluate severity and distinguish between IBS with constipation, chronic idiopathic constipation and dyssynergic defecation. Novel smartphone applications can help track constipation symptoms. Rectal examinations, anorectal manometry and balloon expulsion, assessments of neuromuscular function with colonic transit time and colonic manometry can provide mechanistic understanding of underlying pathophysiology. Treatments include lifestyle and diet changes, biofeedback therapy and pharmacological agents. Several classes of laxatives, as well as prokinetic and prosecretory agents, are available; here we describe their mechanisms of action, efficacy and side effects.
CONCLUSIONS
Constipation includes multiple overlapping subtypes identifiable using detailed history, current diagnostic tools and smartphone applications. Recognition of individual subtype(s) could pave the way for optimal, evidence-based treatments by a gastroenterology provider.
Topics: Biofeedback, Psychology; Chronic Disease; Constipation; Defecation; Humans; Laxatives; Manometry
PubMed: 33909919
DOI: 10.1111/apt.16369 -
Health Technology Assessment... Dec 2020Urinary incontinence affects one in three women worldwide. Pelvic floor muscle training is an effective treatment. Electromyography biofeedback (providing visual or... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Urinary incontinence affects one in three women worldwide. Pelvic floor muscle training is an effective treatment. Electromyography biofeedback (providing visual or auditory feedback of internal muscle movement) is an adjunct that may improve outcomes.
OBJECTIVES
To determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of biofeedback-mediated intensive pelvic floor muscle training (biofeedback pelvic floor muscle training) compared with basic pelvic floor muscle training for treating female stress urinary incontinence or mixed urinary incontinence.
DESIGN
A multicentre, parallel-group randomised controlled trial of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of biofeedback pelvic floor muscle training compared with basic pelvic floor muscle training, with a mixed-methods process evaluation and a longitudinal qualitative case study. Group allocation was by web-based application, with minimisation by urinary incontinence type, centre, age and baseline urinary incontinence severity. Participants, therapy providers and researchers were not blinded to group allocation. Six-month pelvic floor muscle assessments were conducted by a blinded assessor.
SETTING
This trial was set in UK community and outpatient care settings.
PARTICIPANTS
Women aged ≥ 18 years, with new stress urinary incontinence or mixed urinary incontinence. The following women were excluded: those with urgency urinary incontinence alone, those who had received formal instruction in pelvic floor muscle training in the previous year, those unable to contract their pelvic floor muscles, those pregnant or < 6 months postnatal, those with prolapse greater than stage II, those currently having treatment for pelvic cancer, those with cognitive impairment affecting capacity to give informed consent, those with neurological disease, those with a known nickel allergy or sensitivity and those currently participating in other research relating to their urinary incontinence.
INTERVENTIONS
Both groups were offered six appointments over 16 weeks to receive biofeedback pelvic floor muscle training or basic pelvic floor muscle training. Home biofeedback units were provided to the biofeedback pelvic floor muscle training group. Behaviour change techniques were built in to both interventions.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The primary outcome was urinary incontinence severity at 24 months (measured using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence Short Form score, range 0-21, with a higher score indicating greater severity). The secondary outcomes were urinary incontinence cure/improvement, other urinary and pelvic floor symptoms, urinary incontinence-specific quality of life, self-efficacy for pelvic floor muscle training, global impression of improvement in urinary incontinence, adherence to the exercise, uptake of other urinary incontinence treatment and pelvic floor muscle function. The primary health economic outcome was incremental cost per quality-adjusted-life-year gained at 24 months.
RESULTS
A total of 300 participants were randomised per group. The primary analysis included 225 and 235 participants (biofeedback and basic pelvic floor muscle training, respectively). The mean 24-month International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence Short Form score was 8.2 (standard deviation 5.1) for biofeedback pelvic floor muscle training and 8.5 (standard deviation 4.9) for basic pelvic floor muscle training (adjusted mean difference -0.09, 95% confidence interval -0.92 to 0.75; = 0.84). A total of 48 participants had a non-serious adverse event (34 in the biofeedback pelvic floor muscle training group and 14 in the basic pelvic floor muscle training group), of whom 23 (21 in the biofeedback pelvic floor muscle training group and 2 in the basic pelvic floor muscle training group) had an event related/possibly related to the interventions. In addition, there were eight serious adverse events (six in the biofeedback pelvic floor muscle training group and two in the basic pelvic floor muscle training group), all unrelated to the interventions. At 24 months, biofeedback pelvic floor muscle training was not significantly more expensive than basic pelvic floor muscle training, but neither was it associated with significantly more quality-adjusted life-years. The probability that biofeedback pelvic floor muscle training would be cost-effective was 48% at a £20,000 willingness to pay for a quality-adjusted life-year threshold. The process evaluation confirmed that the biofeedback pelvic floor muscle training group received an intensified intervention and both groups received basic pelvic floor muscle training core components. Women were positive about both interventions, adherence to both interventions was similar and both interventions were facilitated by desire to improve their urinary incontinence and hindered by lack of time.
LIMITATIONS
Women unable to contract their muscles were excluded, as biofeedback is recommended for these women.
CONCLUSIONS
There was no evidence of a difference between biofeedback pelvic floor muscle training and basic pelvic floor muscle training.
FUTURE WORK
Research should investigate other ways to intensify pelvic floor muscle training to improve continence outcomes.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Current Controlled Trial ISRCTN57746448.
FUNDING
This project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in ; Vol. 24, No. 70. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
Topics: Biofeedback, Psychology; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Electromyography; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Middle Aged; Pelvic Floor; Qualitative Research; Treatment Outcome; Urinary Incontinence, Stress
PubMed: 33289476
DOI: 10.3310/hta24700 -
American Journal of Speech-language... Jan 2022Dysphagia is a common sequela of Parkinson disease (PD) and is associated with malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, and mortality. This review article synthesized...
PURPOSE
Dysphagia is a common sequela of Parkinson disease (PD) and is associated with malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, and mortality. This review article synthesized evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions for dysphagia in PD.
METHOD
Electronic searches were conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and speechBITE. Of the 2,015 articles identified, 26 met eligibility criteria: interventional or observational studies with at least five or more participants evaluating dysphagia interventions in adults with PD-related dysphagia, with outcomes measured using videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), or electromyography (EMG). Risk of bias (RoB) was evaluated using the Evidence Project tool and predetermined criteria regarding the rigor of swallowing outcome measures.
RESULTS
Interventions were classified as follows: pharmacological ( = 11), neurostimulation ( = 8), and behavioral ( = 7). Primary outcome measures varied across studies, including swallowing timing, safety, and efficiency, and were measured using VFSS ( = 17), FEES ( = 6), and EMG ( = 4). Critical appraisal of study findings for RoB, methodological rigor, and transparency showed the majority of studies failed to adequately describe contrast media used, signal acquisition settings, and rater blinding to time point. Low certainty evidence generally suggested improved swallow timing with exercises with biofeedback and deep brain stimulation (DBS), improved safety with DBS and expiratory muscle strength training, and improved efficiency with the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment and levodopa.
CONCLUSIONS
Studies with lower RoB and greater experimental rigor showed potential benefit in improving swallowing efficiency but not safety. Further research investigating discrete changes in swallowing pathophysiology post-intervention is warranted to guide dysphagia management in PD.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL
https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.17132162.
Topics: Adult; Biofeedback, Psychology; Deep Brain Stimulation; Deglutition; Deglutition Disorders; Exercise Therapy; Humans; Parkinson Disease; Physical Therapy Modalities
PubMed: 34890260
DOI: 10.1044/2021_AJSLP-21-00145