Journal of Alternative Medicine Research 2009;1(3):221-232.

Manual biofeedback: A novel approach to the assessment and treatment
of neuromuscular dysfunction

Philip Maffetone

Abstract
This paper introduces manual biofeedback, a hands-on neuromuscular therapy that incorporates numerous clinical features of other physical assessment and treatment protocols, including EMG-type biofeedback and manual muscle testing. The clinical and scientific rationale for the use of manual biofeedback is reviewed, including the assessment and treatment of a wide range of neuromuscular dysfunction caused by brain, spinal cord and local injury. This includes the full spectrum of so-called muscle “weakness” (abnormal muscle inhibition), including those with no detectable contraction. Manual biofeedback incorporates active (versus passive) patient participation throughout the rehabilitation process that enlists many of the neurological mechanisms between the muscle and brain, and brain and muscle (including the spinal cord). Instead of using mechanical sensors common in most biofeedback computerized devices, manual biofeedback integrates the practitioner’s sensory system as the primary sensor, much like traditional manual muscle testing procedures used to assess physical disability, and those employed during common neurological evaluations. Manual biofeedback is a clinical hands-on neuromuscular therapy that expands the scope and simplifies many traditional biofeedback-type therapies. It is a safe and inexpensive procedure that addresses the full range of neuromuscular problems, including common muscle imbalance, and muscle dysfunction associated with brain and spinal cord injuries.

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