Application of electromyographic biofeedback therapy in physical dysfunction rehabilitation and post-stroke anxiety reduction in stroke survivors

Anxiety EXISTS DIRECTLY BECAUSE IF THE FUCKING FAILURE OF YOUR DOCTOR TO NOT HAVE 100% RECOVERY PROTOCOLS! Don't you dare blame the survivor for having anxiety caused by your doctor's incompetence!

 Application of electromyographic biofeedback therapy in physical dysfunction rehabilitation and post-stroke anxiety reduction in stroke survivors

Li Yu, Hao Niu, Wen-Bin Ji, Zhi-Gang Liu, Bin Jiang, Wei-Ya Wang

Li Yu, Hao Niu, Wen-Bin Ji, Zhi-Gang Liu, Bin Jiang, Wei-Ya Wang, Department of Rehabilitation, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao), Qingdao 266000, Shandong Province, China ORCID number: Hao Niu (0000-0003-0434-3062). Author contributions: Yu L designed the experiments and conducted clinical data collection; Ji WB, Liu ZG, Jiang B, and Wang WY performed postoperative follow-up and recorded the data, conducted the collation and statistical analysis; Yu L and Niu H made critical revisions to important knowledge content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Institutional review board statement: This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao) (No. KYLL-KS-2024195). Informed consent statement: The Ethics Committee agreed to waive informed consent. Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article. Data sharing statement: All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article. Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/ Corresponding author: Hao Niu, Department of Rehabilitation, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao), No. 758 Hefei Road, Shibei District, Qingdao 266000, Shandong Province, China. niuhao3702@163.com Received: July 8, 2025 Revised: August 11, 2025 Accepted: September 24, 2025 Published online: November 19, 2025 Processing time: 114 Days and 21.6 Hours 

 Abstract 

BACKGROUND 

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, and limb motor dysfunction is one of the most common complications affecting the quality of life of patients. 

 AIM 

To investigate the rehabilitation effects of conventional rehabilitation training combined with electromyographic biofeedback therapy on limb motor dysfunction in stroke survivors. 

 

METHODS 

This observational retrospective cohort study included 60 stroke survivors who underwent post-stroke rehabilitation training in the rehabilitation department of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao) from May 2023 to July 2024. The medical records of the patients were assessed. Eligible patients (N = 60) were divided into two groups on the basis of the type of rehabilitation training received: Conventional rehabilitation alone (control group, n = 30) and conventional rehabilitation combined with electromyographic biofeedback therapy (biofeedback group, n = 30). Upper and lower limb motor function, wrist extension, balance ability, and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion were evaluated before treatment and at 4 weeks and 8 weeks post-treatment by reviewing the patients’ electronic medical records. 

 

RESULTS 

At 4 weeks and 8 weeks post-treatment, the biofeedback group showed significantly better Fugl-Meyer assessment scores, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores, and wrist and ankle active range of motion scores than the control group. 

 

CONCLUSION 

Electromyographic biofeedback therapy combined with conventional rehabilitation can effectively improve upper and lower limb motor function, balance ability, activities of daily living, wrist extension, and ankle dorsiflexion dysfunction in patients post-stroke, with better efficacy than conventional rehabilitation alone. Key Words: Stroke; Electromyographic biofeedback; Hemiplegia; Motor disorders; Rehabilitation Core Tip: This study evaluates the effectiveness of electromyographic biofeedback therapy combined with conventional rehabilitation in post-stroke limb motor dysfunction and anxiety reduction. Patients (N = 60) were divided into control (conventional rehabilitation only) and biofeedback groups. Assessments included the Fugl-Meyer assessment, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. Results showed significant improvements in motor function and reduced anxiety in the biofeedback group compared to controls, highlighting the potential of this combined approach to enhance recovery outcomes in stroke patients.

Yu L, Niu H, Ji WB, Liu ZG, Jiang B, Wang WY. Application of electromyographic biofeedback therapy in physical dysfunction rehabilitation and post-stroke anxiety reduction in stroke survivors. World J Psychiatry 2025; 15(11): 109332 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i11.109332]