Abstract
The present case report on two patients with spasmodic torticollis is concerned with EMG biofeedback (EMG-BF) using breathing exercise. The breathing exercise with prolonged respiratory exhalation is used as a strategy of muscle relaxation. It has already been reported that the breathing exercise is an effective method for reducing physiological and psychological arousal. The treatment to reduce the tension of sternocleidomastoid muscle contains 1) EMG-BF session, 2) EMG-BF with breathing exercise session, and 3) breathing exercise session without EMG-BF. Each of our two patients was treated in the order of these three sessions. Results show that their average EMG Ievels of the sternocleidomastoid muscles were almost significantly reduced during each session. After the first and second sessions, however, they could suppress the tension of muscle activities only by the breathing exercise. Furthermore, their various complaints were improved. The implications for the significance of the breathing exercise as a strategy of muscle relax. ation in the EMG-BF were discussed.
