Latest news with #biofeedback
Medscape
4 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Cognitive Therapy Offers Sustained Relief of Low Back Pain
A personalized protocol involving self-managed cognitive functional therapy (CFT) was associated with sustained symptom improvement at 3 years in patients with chronic low back pain in a phase 3 follow-up study. The three-armed RESTORE trial assessed adult patients in Australia with chronic disabling low back pain, showing effectiveness for CFT with or without motion sensor biofeedback compared with usual care for up to 1 year. In this new extension analysis of RESTORE, both CFT treatments were still more effective than usual care at 3 years, with greater reductions in both pain intensity and activity limitation. Interestingly, no differences in outcomes were found between the CFT-only group and the CFT plus biofeedback group. 'It shows that if we empower patients with knowledge and skills to manage back pain, including future flare-ups that are almost inevitable, then we can markedly reduce the massive personal and societal burden of back pain,' lead author Mark Hancock, PhD, Spinal Pain Research Center, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, told Medscape Medical News. 'We hoped to see these results, given the intervention design, but we were still somewhat surprised how well the effects lasted over time,' he added. The findings were published online on August 5 in The Lancet Rheumatology . Building on 'Unusual' Initial Findings Hancock noted that most treatments for low back pain produce small, short-lasting benefits. 'The CFT intervention is specifically designed to have long-term effects, as it gives people the skills, knowledge, and confidence to self-manage. The results we previously published showed the effects were sustained at 1 year, which is unusual, and we wanted to see if it remained effective at 3 years,' he said. In the original RESTORE trial, the investigators recruited adult patients who had low back pain lasting more than 3 months and randomly assigned them to receive one of three treatments: CFT only (n = 164), CFT plus biofeedback (n = 163), or usual care (n = 165). The CFT groups received up to seven treatments over 12 weeks plus a booster session at 26 weeks, all of which were delivered by trained physiotherapists. Investigators noted that CFT targets biopsychosocial barriers to recovery and has three components that are based on an individual patient's goals. These components include 'making sense of pain,' exposure with control, and lifestyle change. Both CFT groups wore movement sensors during their sessions, but only the CFT plus biofeedback group and their physiotherapists had access to the data. Usual care involved treatment that was chosen by the patient themselves and/or recommended by their healthcare provider. The new 3-year follow-up included 312 of the original participants (mean age, 48 years; 60% women) and between 60% and 65% of each of the original treatment groups. The extension's primary outcome was self-reported pain-related physical activity limitation, as measured on the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire. The secondary outcome was pain intensity, as measured by the numeric pain rating scale. Long-Term Pain Reduction Results showed that CFT with biofeedback was more effective in reducing activity limitation at the 3-year mark vs usual care (mean difference, -4.1; P < .0001), as was CFT alone (mean difference, -3.5; P < .0001). Additionally, CFT with or without biofeedback was more effective in reducing pain intensity vs usual care (mean differences, -1.5 and -1.0, respectively; P < .0001 for both). For both measures, the differences between the two CFT groups were not significant. Sensitivity analyses showed similar, although slightly smaller, effects. In addition, 49% of the CFT plus biofeedback and 43% of the CFT-only groups maintained recovery level scores between the 1-year and 3-year follow-ups compared with 17% of the usual care group. 'These long-term effects are novel and provide the opportunity to markedly reduce the effect of chronic back pain if the intervention can be widely implemented,' the investigators wrote. They noted that this would include an increase in clinician training and replication studies in other populations. 'This type of biopsychosocial intervention is widely recommended in guidelines, but the evidence [for it] is now becoming much stronger,' Hancock said. 'Many clinicians aim to deliver these interventions, but they often find it hard, especially if they were trained in a more pure biomedical way of thinking. There are now more resources to assist clinicians in upskilling in these approaches,' he added. 'Cautious Optimism' In an accompanying editorial, Dimitrios Lytras, PhD, Department of Physiotherapy, International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece, applauded how the study was conducted. 'Methodologically, RESTORE is exemplary: a pragmatic, multicenter trial embedded in routine care [and] supported by thorough therapist training,' Lytras wrote. He added that the results 'offer cautious optimism' and a shift from passive care models to ones that are more patient-centered. The addition of biofeedback not leading to added benefit could be explained by the fact that CFT 'already incorporates rich feedback mechanisms, making supplementary sensor input redundant,' he noted. Lytras wrote that the intervention is also low risk and high value. Durable Functional Gains Commenting for Medscape Medical News, Sean Mackey, MD, PhD, Redlich professor and chief of the Division of Pain Medicine at Stanford Medicine, Palo Alto, California, said the study showed durable functional gains and modest pain changes. The dose of seven visits over 12 weeks plus a 26-week booster was 'lean,' but the effects held, which was 'pleasantly surprising,' said Mackey, who was not involved with the research. However, he did note a few caveats, including that only 63% of the randomized cohort contributed to the 3-year data. In addition, 'those followed were less severe at baseline and did better at 1 year, though loss to follow-up was nondifferential by arm,' he said. In reflecting on the study design, Mackey noted that an 'attention-matched active comparator to blunt performance and expectancy bias' would have been helpful. He pointed out that the researchers themselves acknowledged that usual care was not contact-matched. He added that it would also have been valuable to include data on 3-year adverse events, healthcare utilization, and costs. If future research confirms its generalizability to other countries, Mackey said he would recommend clinicians 'adopt the CFT package' of graded exposure with a control and lifestyle coaching, schedule 6-8 visits plus a 6-month booster, measure function as the primary outcome, and set expectations for about a one-point reduction in pain. He recommended against adding sensor biofeedback because 'it didn't help.'
The Independent
06-08-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Just one course of psychotherapy can ease back pain for years, study finds
A single course of psychotherapy can provide relief for years to people suffering from debilitating back pain, according to a new study. The research, published in The Lancet Rheumatology, shows that cognitive functional therapy, CFT, can ease low back pain for at least three years. Low back pain is a chronic condition and one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, marked by unpredictable recurrences and pain flare-ups. Although it affects over 600 million people worldwide, and is projected to impact around 840 million by 2050, most treatments only yield small to moderate improvement. CFT is currently the first line of treatment for chronic low back pain but how effective and lasting its benefits are isn't well understood. CFT is an individualised approach that seeks to alter a patient's relationship with their chronic pain and works by targeting unhelpful cognitions, emotions, and behaviours that contribute to pain and disability. The latest study shows that CFT effectively improves physical activity participation among those with low back pain for up to three years. In the study, scientists assessed data from about 500 patients with chronic low back pain in Australia who were randomly assigned to receive eight treatment sessions of usual care, CFT, or CFT plus biofeedback, a technique that uses sensors to measure body functions such as heart rate and enable the patient to modify them. Usual care was any treatment recommended to patients by healthcare providers, including painkillers, physical therapy or massage. The study showed that patients who received CFT and CFT plus biofeedback saw improvements in their physical activity participation over usual care. The difference between those receiving CFT only and CFT plus biofeedback at three years was found to be small and not significant. People with CFT could change their mindset about pain and self-manage through movement patterns and lifestyle improvements, the study found. Based on the findings, researchers say CFT has long-term benefits on physical activity for those with low back pain, providing an opportunity to ease discomfort if the intervention can be widely implemented. 'CFT can produce large and sustained improvements for people with chronic disabling low back pain at considerably lower societal cost than that of usual care,' the study noted. Researchers call for scaling up of clinician training for greater accessibility and widespread implementation of CFT.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Biofeedback Federation of Europe Announces 24th Annual Meeting in Szczecin, Poland
LONDON, May 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Biofeedback Federation of Europe (BFE) is pleased to announce its 24th Meeting, set to take place March 23-28, 2026, in the vibrant city of Szczecin, Poland. This 6-day event will bring together researchers, clinicians, and professionals from around the world to share innovations, advancements, and practical applications in biofeedback and neurofeedback. This annual meeting serves as a vital platform for collaboration, education, and professional growth within the biofeedback community, offering attendees valuable opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange. The meeting is structured to offer five full days of workshops (selected based on the participants areas of interest) that provide hands-on experience in addition to didactic learning. Also on the agenda is a Scientific Program that provides a full day of lectures and poster presentations on the latest research and applications in the field. The BFE is now accepting submissions for workshops, oral presentations, and poster presentations. Experts and practitioners are invited to contribute to this leading conference by sharing their research, case studies, and methodologies that push the boundaries of biofeedback science and practice. For more information about the submission process, visit the BFE's dedicated meeting website. More details about the program will be added as they become available. Submissions DeadlinesWorkshops: September 30, 2025Symposia & Oral Presentations: December 15, 2025Posters: January 30, 2026 Asked about the meeting location, Dr. Erik Peper, BFE Advisory Board President commented, "It is truly exciting to return to Poland for the Biofeedback Federation of Europe's 24th Meeting. Our last gathering there in 2012 was a remarkable experience, filled with insightful discussions, innovation, and collaboration. Many attendees who had never visited Poland before were pleasantly surprised by the country's rich culture, and the kindness and hospitality of its people. Szczecin, with its welcoming atmosphere and vibrant academic community, is the perfect backdrop for another outstanding conference. We look forward to reconnecting with colleagues, exchanging knowledge, and advancing the field of biofeedback in this dynamic setting." About the Biofeedback Federation of EuropeThe Biofeedback Federation CIC is a UK-based community interest company committed to fostering healthier communities through the transformative power of biofeedback. By collaborating with leading experts in the field, BFE provides education and training in best practices for biofeedback and neurofeedback, equipping professionals with the tools and knowledge to share the benefits of biofeedback with the populations they serve. The BFE is funded through revenues from its online shop, as well as sponsorships and donations. Contact:Carol Meyersgeneralmanager@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Biofeedback Federation of Europe
