Every single person in this world, no exceptions, feels pain and stress. Many people choose to go on medication to help with these things, even if that is not always the best answer because all medications have side effects. Biofeedback is a method that can take the place of the medication on which so many people rely. Biofeedback is a medical technique in which people are taught to better understand their bodies in the hope that they can eventually manipulate them to cope with various things. Many areas of specialization use these techniques: psychologists use it to help patients relax; physical therapists use it to help stroke victims regain control of muscles; and many other specialists use it to help patients cope with various types of pain. This shouldn’t be unfamiliar with you; at some point, you’ve probably taken your temperature with a thermometer (biofeedback machine) to understand why you were feeling sick.
Biofeedback Techniques
Just as there is an endless list of reasons—migraines headaches, tension headaches, digestive system disorders, high and low blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, Raynaud’s disease, epilepsy, paralysis, and more—that cause stress and/or need for physical improvement, there is a nearly endless list for biofeedback techniques to help them. Some examples: magnetic biofeedback, biofeedback yoga, holistic treatments, aromatherapy, various types of other therapy, and more. The biofeedback machines, however, can be used in the comfort of your own home or by a professional very easily. Among these, there are different types to be used for different reasons. Understand that biofeedback is not a cure for anything, but only a means to see how much behaviors, thoughts and feelings affect one’s physical health.
Biofeedback Therapy
A therapy session of biofeedback consists of attaching sensors to various parts of the body. The sensors can measure a variety of things, including physiological state, skin temperature, or muscle tension. Once the sensors get the information, they relay it to you via a signal, like a flashing light or beeping noise. In order to make the noise or light disappear, you need to alter your thoughts, behavior, or emotions. After doing this, hopefully your condition will be improved.
Electromyography Biofeedback
By using surface electrodes that detect muscle action, you can get information about your body’s muscle tension. In the end, this information will help you practice relaxation techniques.
Thermal Biofeedback
Sensors capable of monitoring temperature are attached to the fingers or feet to measure skin temperature. Our body temperature tends to drop when we’re under stress, so if the reading is low (indicating a low temperature), we will know that we need to relax.
Electrodermograph
The specific method here is called galvanic skin response training because sensors measure the amount of perspiration on your skin, alerting you to anxiety. Many of us sweat when we are nervous or anxious. Knowing this, we can take steps to relax.
Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback
The rhythm of our heart can tell us a important things about our current physical condition. Blood pressure, lung function, and stress and anxiety levels can all be determined by using a heart rate monitoring machine. By knowing when we are stressed or have a blood pressure problem, we can do relaxation techniques or change the diet to help fix it.
Home Biofeedback Devices
Instead of having to drive to a hospital, physical therapy clinic, or other medical center for a biofeedback session, there are biofeedback machines that can be used at home. At first, you might feel more comfortable having a professional assist you, but if you find the biofeedback mechanism useful, you can ultimately practice it on your own. There are both hand-held devices and larger ones that need to be connected to your computer. They do virtually the same thing as in a facility, you just have to know how to use them.
Comments are closed