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Cited by 143Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitationPain Management and TreatmentPain Mechanisms and Treatments

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Efficacy of Biofeedback in Chronic back Pain: a Meta-Analysis

Sielski, Robert, Rief, Winfried, Glombiewski, Julia Anna·2017·International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
DOI 10.1007/s12529-016-9572-9
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Abstract

Purpose The aims of the present analysis were to investigate the short- and long-term efficacy and treatment moderators of biofeedback as a psychological treatment option for chronic back pain. Method A literature search using PubMed, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library identified 21 eligible studies including 23 treatment conditions and 1062 patients. Results Meta-analytic integration resulted in a significant small-to-medium effect size for pain intensity reduction (Hedges' g = 0.60; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.44, 0.76) that proved to be stable with a significant small-to-large effect size (Hedges' g = 0.62; 95 % CI 0.40, 0.84) over an average follow-up phase of 8 months. Biofeedback also proved to be effective in reducing depression (Hedges' g = 0.40; 95 % CI 0.27, 0.52), disability (Hedges' g = 0.49; 95 % CI 0.34, 0.74), reduction of muscle tension (EMG; Hedges' g = 0.44; 95 % CI 0.22, 0.65), and improving cognitive coping (Hedges' g = 0.41; 95 % CI 0.26, 0.57). These effects remained comparatively stable at follow-up and for controlled studies only. Moderator analyses revealed longer biofeedback treatments to be more effective for reducing disability and a greater proportion of biofeedback in the treatment to be more effective for reducing depression. Publication bias analyses demonstrated the consistency of these effects. Conclusion It is concluded that biofeedback treatment can lead to improvements on various pain-related outcomes in the short and long terms, both…

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Metadata

Authors
Sielski, R., Rief, W., & Glombiewski, J. A.
Affiliations
Philipps University of Marburg (DE)
Corresponding author
Sielski, Robert
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2016-06-15
Volume
24
Issue
1
Pages
25-41
ISSN
  • 1070-5503 (ISSN-L)
  • 1532-7558
DOI
10.1007/s12529-016-9572-9
OpenAlex
W2430553295
Cited by
143
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3
FWCI
1.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (unspecified)
Locations
  • International Journal of Behavioral Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
Keywords
biofeedback, chronic back pain, pain intensity, depression, disability, muscle tension, electromyography, coping, psychological intervention, treatment moderators, adjunctive intervention
MeSH terms
Back Pain, Biofeedback, Psychology, Depression, Humans, Chronic Pain

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