Biofeedback

About this topic

Biofeedback is a treatment method that teaches you how to become more aware of how your body works while you are at rest, active, or under stress. Biofeedback uses tools to measure your body functions. You will learn how to tell the difference in how your body reacts when you are at rest, active, or stressed. Biofeedback training teaches you how to alter or control your bodys functions by relaxing. ‚
Small sticky patches called electrodes are placed on parts of your body. Each kind of biofeedback may use different measures. The electrodes measure your: ‚

Brain waves
Heart rate
Blood pressure
Breathing
Skin temperature
Sweating
Muscle tension

A monitor will show the results. A sound or light is used to let you know how your body is reacting to rest, events, or stress. You will use these signals to let you know when you have reached your goal. ‚
You may get biofeedback training and tools in clinics, medical centers, or hospitals. There are also tools given for home use. Ask your doctor what tool is best for you. ‚
Biofeedback may be used to treat things like: ‚

Muscle or nerve problems
Heart or lung problems
High or low blood pressure
Stress, worry, or low mood
Tension or migraine headaches
Problems with leaking urine
Constipation
Problems sleeping

General

There are many ways to measure your signals with biofeedback. Your doctor will help you learn how to read your bodys signals and reach a goal of reducing stress or pain and relaxing. What you will learn depends on the kind of biofeedback you are using. Some kinds of biofeedback are: ‚
Electromyography (EMG) ‚

An EMG measures the activity of your muscles and helps manage muscle tension. It may be used with types of nerve and muscle problems. It may also help heal muscle injuries and ease long-term pain.
An electrode is placed on your skin over the muscles with problems. The electrode is hooked to a special tool that tracks the activity in your muscles. More activity means tighter muscles. Less activity means the muscles are more relaxed.
The biofeedback machine often shows pictures or makes clicking sounds. These let you know what is happening in a certain group of muscles.

Thermal Biofeedback or Skin Temperature Biofeedback ‚

Staff will place a special tool on one of your fingers to measure your skin temperature. The tool may also be able to check blood flow.
If you have migraine headaches, your doctor may order this kind of treatment. Some doctors also use it to treat anxiety or high blood pressure. Each of these conditions may have a problem related to blood flow.

Neurofeedback or Electroencephalography (EEG) ‚

An EEG measures your brain waves.
Staff will place electrodes on your scalp and your ears. These pick up the brain waves and send them to the screen where you can see them.
Your doctor will help you learn how your brain waves move based on your feelings, health, and wellness. Then, you can learn how to change them.
Doctors use this kind of biofeedback to treat many things. Some of them are worry, low mood, not being able to sleep, long-term pain, addiction, and other illnesses.

Electrodermal Activity (EDA) or Galvanic Skin Response ‚

This type of biofeedback checks to see how active your sweat glands are. When you are more stressed or nervous, you sweat more. This raises the electrical activity of your skin.
An electrode or patch is placed on your skin and hooked to a special machine. The machine shows the electrical activity on a screen.
You will see a change in the electrical activity as you learn to manage your sweating.
Doctors use this kind of biofeedback to treat fear, phobias, and worry.

Heart Rate Monitoring ‚

As your heart rate is measured, the numbers are seen on the screen. When you have stress, worry, or high blood pressure, your heart rate is higher.
As you learn to relax, your heart rate will go down.
Doctors may use this kind of biofeedback to treat things like high blood pressure or breathing problems. It may also be used to treat stress, worry, and fears.

What will the results be?

Biofeedback may help you: ‚

Know your bodys responses. Then, you are better able to work with your body to feel better and healthier.
Manage your body's functions
Lower or avoid the use of drugs
Ease and treat some health problems without having other care
Treat some health problems during pregnancy

Where can I learn more?

American Cancer Society ‚
http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/MindBodyandSpirit/biofeedback ‚
Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback ‚
http://www.aapb.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3441 ‚
Better Health Channel ‚
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Kinesiology ‚

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚

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