10
The !
BIOFEEDBACK!
PROGRAMME
The "biofeedback" mode presupposes the detection
of a signal whose value varies in proportion to the
muscle contraction of the area under treatment.
Perineal biofeedback takes place, with the
evoStim
®
E unit, by means of vaginal or anal
probes and consists in detecting the EMG signal
exerted by the perineal muscles, during a voluntary
contraction, and acquired on the two electrodes of
the probe.
To correctly detect a surface EMG signal, it is
required to apply a reference electrode, in
correspondence with a bony prominence (§ 7.3).
The detected EMG value is not numerically
displayed but on a concentric circles graph ⑭6or6on6
a6linear bar graph ⑬, by means of a back-lit LCD
display.
The goal for the patient is to activate all the 20
circles of the target ⑥, including the central one (or
all 40 segments of linear bar-graph).
Appropriate audible signals motivate the patient to
improve the level of contraction. The therapeutic
goal of biofeedback is to improve the awareness and
voluntary control of the area treated by administering
to the patient (in simplest form) even the slightest
variations in the contraction / EMG detected.
For evoStim
®
E, we have chosen, as the main
visual feedback, the concentric circles target as it
graphically emulates the closure of an orifice caused
by muscle contraction.
The patient will see turning-ON a number of
concentric circles ⑭6(from outside to inside) directly
proportional to the contraction effected by himself,
also appreciating the smallest variations.
In the absence of contraction (muscles at rest) none
or very few circles will appear on the target; with the
rise of the contraction level, an increasing number of
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