Biofeedback therapy is a method of learning to consciously regulate normally
unconscious (or involuntary) bodily functions in order to improve overall
health. Electronic instruments monitor the body's physiology and displays this
information back to the patient. The awareness of the physiological activity in
various parts of the body allows the subject to evaluate the body's functioning.
Once an understanding of how the body responds to a given problem, such as
stress or stress-related problems, is achieved, the therapist then works with
the patient to teach them how to reduce or eliminate the sources by
re-patterning the physiological responses.
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How it Works
Biofeedback instruments are highly sensitive electronic devices that monitor
physiological process. Signals from the body are amplified by the instrument and
converted into usable information. Biofeedback instruments may have meters,
light, computer display, or tones which presents the information to the trainee
or patient. Most of the current devices use computers which allows various ways
to present the feedback. Examples of some widely used measurements
include:
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- Temperature biofeedback: Blood flow or temperature biofeedback is a
primary tool for general relaxation training, and for the treatment of
specific vascular disease including migraine headaches, Reynaud's Syndrome
and essential hypertension. The temperature feedback instrument shows when
blood flow is increasing by increase in finger temperature. Because blood
flow in the hands responds to stress and relaxation the patient learns to
relax by watching the rise and the fall of temperature the client becomes
aware of internal feelings associated with relaxation and will learn to
voluntarily produce this state.
- Electromyography: The electromyography (or EMG) measures muscle tension
monitored with sensors placed on the skin over appropriate muscles. EMG
feedback is used for general relaxation training and is the primary tool for
the treatment of tension headache, pain reduction and muscle spasm or
paralysis due to injury or stroke.
- The electrodermal responses (EDR), or Galvanic Skin Response (GSR)
feedback devices, measures sweat gland activity of the finger tip or palm, a
response that is highly sensitive to emotions or thoughts. This instrument
is used to treat excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). GDR feedback is also
used in general relaxation training and to help the client identify
significant stressors and to reduce their impact through desensitization
training.
- Electroencephalograph: The EEG records information about brainwave
activity monitored from sensors placed on the scalp. Changes in brainwaves
reflect changes in processes of attention and in the state of arousal from
sleep to alert wakefulness. This type of training has been used for general
relaxation and mind quieting, as well as for gaining attention control. In
addition, EEG biofeedback has aided in the treatment of pain, insomnia,
hyperactive behavior in children and, most recently, for the treatment of
drug addiction.
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Use for Stress Management
One of the most popular uses for biofeedback is to help a patient control
excessive stress in their life. While some stress is good and helps one to act
effectively, too much can cause an imbalance in body systems. Generally
speaking, stress may be classified either by type or by level of response.
Types of Stress:
- Physical stress affects the muscles and skeletal system. When you
experience pressure from any source your muscles contract involuntarily as
if to repel a physical attack. The face, back and neck are the main victims
as your "body language" becomes more stilted, rigid and painful.
- Physiological stress often occurs after a stressful event, which leaves
hormones including adrenaline lingering in the blood and may contribute to a
physiological imbalance. A simple indicator of physiological stress is
finger temperature.
- Cognitive stress (worry, anxiety) manifests itself through subtle and
imperceptible changes in the rate of perspiring on hands and feet. For some
unknown reason, perspiration effectors in the fingers are "wired"
to a part of the brain dealing with cognitive processes.
- Neurological stress (particularly trauma-induced stress) can affect people
through neurological disorders such as epilepsy or acute depression and
related behavioral disorders such as alcoholism and substance abuse.
Levels of Stress Response:
- The first level of stress comprises external events (interpersonal,
familial, job-related, etc.) that cause the stress reactions. These factors
need to be eliminated or a method for reducing them should be
developed.
- The second level is the person's attitudinal reaction to the stressor. How
an event is viewed determines much of the physiological response. People react
differently to the same event depending on the context in which it occurs.
- The third level of stress is the change in physiology over time, as the
body reacts to the stressor. The body's stress response can become a habit
in a short period of time. Unless a person is sensitive to the habit, it can
develop without their awareness. Failure to address the symptoms and the
resulting habit may allow it to increase in severity over time.
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Conditions Benefited
- Temporo Mandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)
- Headache: Migraine and Tension
- Neck and Shoulder Pain
- Anxiety Disorders
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Epilepsy
- Asthma
- Reynaud's Syndrome
- Neuromuscular Disorders
- Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Depression
- Drug and Alcohol addiction
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Panic attacks
- Essential hypertension
- Rheumatic Arthritis Pain
- Motion sickness
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