Electromyographic biofeedback in stroke rehabilitation: A pathway to motor recovery and psychological resilience

Abstract

The retrospective study by Yu et al (2025) demonstrates that electromyographic biofeedback therapy, when combined with conventional rehabilitation, provides significant advantages in stroke recovery. Compared with traditional treatment alone, patients receiving biofeedback showed greater improvements in upper and lower limb Fugl–Meyer scores, balance performance, and wrist and ankle joint range of motion at both 4 and 8 weeks. Importantly, reductions in scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale further highlight the psychological benefits of this approach. These findings confirm that electromyographic biofeedback not only accelerates functional recovery but also reduces post-stroke anxiety and depression, thereby addressing two critical dimensions of stroke rehabilitation. Given the relatively small sample size, further multicenter, long-term trials are needed to validate these promising outcomes and optimize individualized treatment strategies.

Keywords: Electromyographic biofeedback therapy; Stroke rehabilitation; Neuroplasticity; Motor function recovery; Post-stroke anxiety

Core Tip: Electromyographic biofeedback therapy re-establishes the disrupted brain-muscle communication in stroke survivors, enabling the restoration of voluntary motor control. Beyond enhancing physical recovery, it alleviates anxiety and depression by strengthening patients’ self-efficacy, motivation, and emotional stability. Building upon Yu et al’s findings, this letter emphasizes how electromyography biofeedback promotes neural adaptability, fosters psychological resilience, and integrates seamlessly into multidisciplinary rehabilitation models, offering a comprehensive pathway toward holistic stroke recovery.