I mean, I know it depends also on the location and the type of pain (headache disorder, neuropathic pain, musculoskeletal pain).
I'm looking a basic solution (2 channel) with software to start using it both for research and clinical use.
One channel could be use for eeg and the other? (e.g. muscle tone, skin conductance/impedence, blood pressure, breathing, heart rate variability).
Any suggestion?
Sorry if that is a little bit broad question
Hi,
absolutely right, depends on the kind of pain.
puls volume sensor at the temple for certain types of headache works for most patients.
a huge part of the patients who can be treated with biofeedback have chronic musculosceletal pain. EMG for tension related muscle pain, usually upper (trapezius) and lower (erector spinae) back as well as neck pain. another group of patients that might profit from biofeedback along with physiotherapy are pain patients with tension related pain or pain due to asymmetrical posture or gait after injury. Not sure how your machine is set up, but for EMG which is very effective, you might need 2 channels.
other measures:
most patients in a psychotherapeutical setting tense up because of psychological stressors. that is often accompanied by an increase in heart rate. that might be another variable to control that is not directly linked to the direct physiological cause of the pain. so by teaching subjects/patients to control their reaction to stress it might help them to alleviate pain.
hope that helps a little
Hi Mariela,
thank you for your answer and suggestions.
I don't have yet a machine, I am also looking for one. There are too many companies and with with really different prices apparently for the same equipment.
I have to understand what are the specifications certified for primarily clinical use.
Hi Mariela,
thank you for your answer and suggestions.
I don't have yet a machine, I am also looking for one. There are too many companies and with with really different prices apparently for the same equipment.
I have to understand what are the specifications certified for primarily clinical use.
Ah,
well in a clinical setting I have used this one: http://www.schuhfried.com/biofeedback-2000x-pert-bfb/the-modular-components-of-biofeedback-2000x-pert/ its is pretty foolproof to use and has some preset exercises. its wireless with the transmitter being clipped to the patient so he/she can move with it. there is, however, only limited eeg capability: 2 channels, raw.
I am not sure if this is the best one, but this is the only purely clinical - non-research one i have used. for clinical use it is absolutely sufficient. not sure if anyone has used this for research..
mariela
Hi, I don't know about clinical devices, I'm a strictly basic researcher. A brilliant feature would be discrimination between thermal and pressure/mechanical stimulation. Mainly when stimulating with cold, it's virtually impossible not to touch the subject with the source of stimulation, which will activate various receptors, not exclusively thermal ones.
Thank you for the contributions.
I know the BFE site, but the protocols and the articles cited are very old.
About the discrimination between thermal and mechanical stimulation I think it is a useful task in the research field but not in the clinical practices.
Anyway thank you to all,
Alessandro
Having spent 30 years treating chronic pain with biofeedback equipment I can offer a few comments. As noted in other posts different types of pain require different types of equipment. Muscle pain requires SEMG equipment, stress is best treated with heart rate variability techniques (emWave etc) although a GSR and/or temperature peripheral system works quite well. Pain involving the brain needs a qEEG assessment and EEG neurotherapy treatment. So in my opinion I recommend you decide the type of client you want to treat then ask your question of this panel again. The other thought is to get a computerized system which can be expanded as funds and demand comes appropriate. You might want to take a look at the products from Thought Technology as their systems are varied and can be expended.
Really thank you for the precious observations from your direct experiences.
The main problem is that I can't choose what kind of pain treat, because our reality is very small and we have a really heterogeneous groups of patients.
I know the company Thought Technology because my trained on biofeedback was on their products. I think also that their software is clear and useful. But for start an activities you have to invest too much money, I was hoping to find something more convenient but at the same time, professional.
(Probably I ask the moon...)
Really thank you for the precious observations from your direct experiences.
The main problem is that I can't choose what kind of pain treat, because our reality is very small and we have a really heterogeneous groups of patients.
I know the company Thought Technology because my trained on biofeedback was on their products. I think also that their software is clear and useful. But for start an activities you have to invest too much money, I was hoping to find something more convenient but at the same time, professional.
(Probably I ask the moon...)
If you are interested in neurofeedback therapy. There is a protocol of sensorimotor rhythms that could be useful.
Studies show that if you power these brain waves, you reduce the pain.
With two channels would be enough.
A greeting.
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