Abstract
A group study on the comparative efficacy of EMG biofeedback and progressive relaxation is presented. Sixteen children aged between 8 and 14 years with chronic tension headache and combined headache participated in the study. Six sessions of relaxation training and 12 (shorter) biofeedback sessions were held with each child. Both treatments had excellent results, which were apparent directly after training. All but one child benefited to a clinically significant extent from the treatment, with a reduction of more than 50% in headache frequency. Other variables indicate further positive effects of treatment (e.g., medication consumption, absence from school). After 6 months of follow-up the children treated by relaxation had achieved event further reductions in headache activity. Suggestions for further improvement in the clinical and economic efficiency of treatment formats are presented, and perspectives for future research are discussed.
Zusammenfassung
Sechzehn 8–14 Jahre alte Kinder mit chronischem Spannungskopfschmerz, z.T. kombiniert mit Migränesymptomen, wurden mit Progressiver Relaxation bzw. EMG-Feedback behandelt. Mit der Progressiven-Relaxations-Gruppe (n=8) wurden 6 Sitzungen (1,5 h) durchgeführt (Einzeltraining). Das EMG-Frontalis-Feedbacktraining bestand aus 12 Sitzungen (1 h) für jedes der 8 Kinder. Bis auf ein Kind profitierten alle Kinder in klinisch bedeutsamer Weise von den beiden Trainings. Insbesondere verringerte sich die Anfallshäufigkeit. Die Effekte waren über 6 Monate stabil und weisen zumindest bei der Relaxation einen Trend zur weiteren Verbesserung auf. Auch andere Parameter zeigten positive Veränderungen auf (Medikation, Abwesenheit von der Schule). Es werden Vorschläge zur Optimierung der Behandlungsformen gemacht und weitere Forschungsperspektiven aufgezeigt.
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Gefördert von der Brunnenbusch-Stein-Stiftung und dem Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Forschung des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen
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Kröner-Herwig, B., Plump, U. & Pothmann, R. Progressive Relaxation und EMG-Biofeedback in der Therapie von chronischem Kopfschmerz bei Kindern. Schmerz 6, 121–127 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02528129
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02528129