Heart Rate Variability and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Clinical Applications

This paper discusses the clinical applications of heart rate variability (HRV) data in the treatment of clients who have experienced traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). In the authors' clinical practice, HRV data is collected at the initial assessment, at progress assessments, and again after the completion of a course of neurofeedback combined with HRV biofeedback treatment. This paper describes HRV seen in healthy individuals compared to HRV in individuals known to have experienced a TBI. Three clinical case examples are discussed that explore the changes in heart rate variability following traumatic brain injury as well as improvements noted during, and following, a course of neurofeedback combined with HRV biofeedback training. The cases illustrated in this paper demonstrate the impressive changes in heart rate variability that can occur following a traumatic brain injury and also highlight how neurofeedback combined with biofeedback training can be used to improve heart rate variability and ameliorate related cognitive symptoms.

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Treating Postconcussion Syndrome with LORETA Z-Score Neurofeedback and Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback: Neuroanatomical/Neurophysiological Rationale, Methods, and Case Examples

Biofeedback ◽

10.5298/1081-5937-43.1.07 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 15-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Michael Thompson ◽

Lynda Thompson ◽

Andrea Reid-Chung

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Assessment Process ◽

Z Score ◽

Activation Patterns ◽

Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback ◽

Case Examples ◽

Quantitative Electroencephalogram

Media attention has highlighted the critical problem of concussion injuries in sport and the challenge of treating and rehabilitating individuals with traumatic brain injury. The authors present a framework for the treatment of traumatic brain injury, using low-resolution electromagnetic tomography Z-score based neurofeedback and heart rate–variability biofeedback. The article advocates a comprehensive assessment process including the use of a 19-channel quantitative electroencephalogram, a heart rate variability baseline, and symptom severity questionnaires for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression, and anxiety. The initial medical assessment, neuropsychological assessment, and evoked potential studies also have potential for a more precise assessment of deficits in brain activation patterns, which assists the targeting of neurofeedback training.

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Regulating emotion following severe traumatic brain injury: a randomized controlled trial of heart-rate variability biofeedback training

Brain Injury ◽

10.1080/02699052.2021.1972337 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

T.A. Wearne ◽

J.A. Logan ◽

E.M. Trimmer ◽

E. Wilson ◽

M. Filipcikova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Severe Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Biofeedback Training ◽

Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback ◽

Randomized Controlled

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Heart Rate Variability and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Case Study and Review of Literature

Neurology ◽

10.1212/01.wnl.0000580840.08822.48 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 93 (14 Supplement 1) ◽

pp. S2.2-S2

Author(s):

Harrison Seltzer ◽

Karim Elghawy ◽

Robert Baker

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Training Session ◽

The United States ◽

Smart Device ◽

Cross Country

ObjectiveUse biofeedback measures to manage a patient's long term recovery from concussion.BackgroundSports-related mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is estimated to affect 3.8 million people in the United States. Identifying quantitative measures of recovery has become a point of interest in treatment. Heart Rate Variability (HRV), the average fluctuation in the interval between heartbeats, shows promise as a noninvasive biomarker.Design/MethodsCase report following cardiovascular recovery of a 15 year old cross country runner 4 months post-injury. Average heart rate and maximum heart rate per training session were collected from the patient's smart device.ResultsA 15-year-old Caucasian male cross-country runner hit the back of his head during a soccer game suffering an MTBI. The patient rested from the activity for 1 week then returned to training. Two months after the injury the patient complained of persistent shortness of breath, fatigue, and increased heart rate while running. According to the patient, his average BPM while running prior to the injury was in the 160s. The patient's smart device post-concussion reports a spike into the 180s. 3 months post-concussion the patient was instructed to keep his heart rate below 170 during training. In the following month, the patient's condition improved gradually with a return to baseline activity.ConclusionsHRV is a promising point of investigation for the management of post-concussive symptoms. Further research is necessary to elucidate the long term effects of concussion on heart rate variability.

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Distinguishing Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Stress Responses: Implications for Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Training

Biofeedback ◽

10.5298/1081-5937-43.1.04 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 4-5

Author(s):

Leah Lagos

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Stress Responses ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Biofeedback Training ◽

Postconcussion Syndrome ◽

Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback ◽

Specialized Form ◽

Biofeedback Research

Recent research has noted a significant overlap between symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and postconcussion syndrome (PCS). In this article, an argument is made for providing a specialized form of heart rate variability biofeedback that allows for the physiological discharge of trauma among patients who present with comorbid symptoms of PTSD and PCS. Recommendations for clinicians who encounter the manifestation of trauma during their work with PCS patients are provided. Future areas of heart rate variability biofeedback research among PCS and PTSD populations are further delineated.

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