What Is Biofeedback?
Biofeedback is a type of therapy that uses monitoring devices to measure a patient’s physiological responses, such as muscle tension, heart rate, and respiration, in order to help the patient gain awareness and control of bodily processes that are normally outside of conscious control. This awareness and control can be used to address physical and mental health challenges, such as chronic pain, high blood pressure, and stress.
The basic idea behind biofeedback is that your mind has a powerful role in influencing your body. With the help of a healthcare provider, you can become aware of your body’s involuntary processes and select which ones you want to consciously change. This process takes practice and guidance from a biofeedback expert, and is important for lasting results.
How Biofeedback Works
Biofeedback treatment starts with a diagnosis and health assessment. The practitioner will then attach sensors to the patient’s skin that measure their body’s physical responses. These sensors are connected to a computer which displays the patient’s responses in real-time.
The patient can watch their body’s responses and make connections between how they are feeling, thinking, and how their body is responding. Through guided relaxation and breathing exercises, they can learn to bring their body back into balance.
Biofeedback also uses physical reinforcement in the form of vibration, audio or visual feedback which can be tailored to an individual’s needs. With practice, the patient can begin to control the process themselves and may no longer require assistance from the practitioner.
Benefits of Biofeedback
The primary benefit of biofeedback is that it can help individuals become aware of their body’s responses and gain control of them. This can be especially useful in treating stress and anxiety, chronic pain, high blood pressure, and migraine headaches.
There are a variety of other conditions that can be helped with biofeedback, such as:
• Insomnia
• Fibromyalgia
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Raynaud’s Syndrome
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Asthma
Biofeedback has also been used to help people improve athletic performance, stop smoking and manage addiction, and improve memory and concentration.
Finding a Biofeedback Practitioner
Biofeedback is a safe and non-invasive treatment that can be done in a professional setting, such as a hospital or medical office, or with a certified biofeedback practitioner. Many practitioners can be found online and usually offer video conference sessions or phone assessments that allow you to get started without needing to travel.
If you are considering biofeedback, it is important to talk to your doctor or another healthcare professional about your goals, medical history, and any medications or other treatments you are using. This will help you determine if biofeedback is the right treatment for you. With the help of a licensed biofeedback practitioner, you can learn to manage your physical and mental health through greater awareness and control of your body’s processes.