Physical therapistswork with thousands of individuals to help them with pain-free movement and function.
The movement they most often work on is a voluntary movement.
They contract, and your body voluntarily rises from the chair.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
But there are many other functions that occur in your body that seemingly happen beyond conscious thought.
Your nervous system is constantly controlling your heart rate,blood pressure,anxietylevels, and pain responses.
Biofeedback therapy can help you gain control of involuntary impulses in your body.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
What Is Biofeedback Therapy?
Biofeedback therapy is a method that you could use to gain control over involuntary processes in your body.
What Does Biofeedback Mean?
The termbiofeedbackmeans feedback from your body.
Your body is naturally wired for survival.
Getting control of these involuntary stress response reactions is one of the main goals of biofeedback therapy.
Types of Biofeedback
There are several different types of biofeedback.
Some require special instruments that monitor your body’s functions and tell you what is going on.
Other types of biofeedback simply require mindfulness of your body’s systems.
Respiratory Biofeedback
During respiratory biofeedback, your rate of breathing is monitored.
After monitoring, you get feedback about how your breathing changes during certain situations.
This punch in of process may help withhypertensionand certain respiratory issues as well.
Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback
Heart rate variability biofeedback uses special sensors to measure yourheart rate.
This feedback allows you to attempt to control your heart rate during specific situations.
It is often used to control unwantedmuscle spasms.
Small sensors that measure your skin’s electrical activity are used during GSR training.
Thermal or Temperature Biofeedback
Thermal biofeedback uses temperature sensors attached to your body.
This may be helpful in relieving stress and anxiety.
Biofeedback Devices
Various biofeedback devices are available to help you during biofeedback therapy.
There are also several wearable biofeedback devices available.
One popular wearable is called Resperate.
Breathing techniques can slow your respiration rate, leading to a sense of calm in the body.
Take a deep breath in, and as you do, allow your belly to rise slightly.
Pause, and then repeat the deep breathing exercise.
This jot down of breathing is also calleddiaphragmatic breathing.
You may use an electricmyographicaldevice attached to your muscles during this form of biofeedback.
To perform progressive muscle relaxation, simply lie on your back.
Take a deep breath in, and then contract a muscle group, like yourcalves, in your legs.
Hold this tight contraction for three seconds, and then release the contraction.
Then, repeat the contraction on a different muscle group, like your thighs orbuttocks.
Progressively work your way up your body, contracting and then relaxing your muscle groups.
This can help you decrease stress and improve insomnia symptoms.
it’s possible for you to also perform guided imagery with a recorded voice acting as a guide.
During guided imagery, you should lie down in a relaxed position.
Then, your guide can ask you to imagine a peaceful or pleasant situation.
During mindfulness meditation, you should get in a comfortable position.
Focus on your breathing, and then allow your mind to focus on your thoughts.
Keep in mind that mindfulness mediation is a practice, and therefore it is not meant to be perfect.
Uses for Biofeedback Therapy
There are several different uses for biofeedback therapy.
Some of these are meant to help physical problems like pain or loss of movement.
Others are meant to help sleep disorders or psychological and emotional problems.
Emotional and Psychological Disorders
You may find relief from several emotional and psychological disorders with biofeedback therapy.
Biofeedback can also help put you in control of your body.
Doing something that puts you in more control of your body can help you improve your overall wellbeing.
Risks of Biofeedback Therapy
Biofeedback therapy is considered a safe treatment approach for health conditions.
No study has reported significant health risks with biofeedback.
Does It Work?
Prior to starting biofeedback, your therapist should perform a brief evaluation.
A medical history should be taken, and goals for therapy should be discussed.
Baseline measurements of the impairments will be recorded so that change over time can be monitored.
Then your therapist will guide you in a specific mental activity involving meditation, imagery, or breathing exercises.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
Keep in mind that everyone is different and responds differently to certain therapies.
It can be used as a non-medication treatment for many different medical conditions.
Studies have shown that biofeedback therapy has many potential benefits and does not appear to be dangerous or risky.
Working with a biofeedback specialist to supplement medical treatment for your condition can be helpful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Biofeedback therapy can be performed independently at home.
There are no risks associated with biofeedback, and benefits may include an increased awareness of your mind-body connection.
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