Important Details About Biofeedback Therapy

By Enid Hinton


Biofeedback is the technique used for learning to control the functions of the body like the heart rate. With the technique, one is connected to electrical sensors which help them to receive information about the body. This is why it is known as biofeedback therapy. It assists the person to focus on making body changes such as relaxation of certain muscles. Essentially, it gives the individual the power to use their thoughts to control the body, usually to help with physical performance or a health condition.

Some of the physical conditions that are managed by this technique are asthma, constipation, chronic pain and anxiety. It is preferred for a number of reasons. For once, it is a non-invasive procedure. Invasive procedures are rarely preferred by most patients. It also reduces and eliminates the need to use medications and thus may be a good alternative for people who may not tolerate medications. Further, it is an option when medicines have failed to work well.

It is generally safe procedure but is not effective for all individuals. The suitability of the procedure needs to be discussed with the doctor. There will not be any need for special preparations before the procedure. The process of finding the right therapist will be crucial. The doctor or any other qualified health practitioner should be able to give referrals on the most qualified therapists for the job. A good number of therapists in this field have licenses in other fields like physiotherapy or nursing.

Prior to beginning treatment, the potential therapist must be asked certain questions and some details clarified. For once, they need to be registered and certified. If they are not licensed, they must be working under some qualified professional that is licensed. The training and experience of the therapist needs to be considered as well. The required number of sessions will be discussed at this time. Having the practitioner give a list of references will help to gauge their experience.

During the biofeedback sessions, electrical sensors are attached to different parts of the body. The sensors monitor the physiological state of the body such as skin temperature, brain waves or muscle tension. The information is fed back to the individual through cues like a beeping sound or flashing light. This feedback teaches the person to change or control the physiological reaction of the body.

As an example, biofeedback will make it possible to pinpoint tense muscles leading to headaches. Patients will then learn techniques of invoking such positive changes as relaxing specific muscles for pain reduction. The main aim is to learn to do so individually from home.

Typical sessions last for 30 to 60 minutes. The number and length of sessions are dependent on the condition of the individual and how fast they learn to control the physical responses. One may need 10 or 50 sessions, making it costly. It is never covered by insurance.

There are various types of biofeedback. They include temperature, heart rate variability and galvanic skin response training. Whereas most devices used were previously found only in clinics and medical centers, they are currently are being marketed for home use.




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