Biofeedback specialists attach sensors to different parts of the body and monitor changes in your skin temperature, heart rate, breathing, brain activity, and muscle tension. Biofeedback therapy is a means of taking control of your health by understanding more tangibly how behaviors and thoughts directly affect health.
Therapy session are typically 90 minutes long and may include things such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, guided visualization, and progressive muscle relaxation. To obtain long term success with biofeedback therapy 10-20 individual session may be required. There are various types of biofeedback therapy which include heart rate, brainwave, muscle, breathing, sweat glands, muscle, electroencephalography, and electromyography.
Attaching sensors to specific parts on the body allows for the precise measurement of changes, depending on the health conditions attempting to be treated or mitigated. Biofeedback devices such as mobile device sensors can be attached to fingertips for continuous monitoring. Some use headbands monitor brain activity with meditation to help learn how to clear their mind more effectively, storing physiological data for later perusal.
Biofeedback therapy main benefits include such things as lowered anxiety, reduced headaches, reduced pain, prevention of hyperactivity, and boosted heart health.
Headaches are one of the most common reasons why biofeedback therapy is sought after. This treatment can reduce tension and stress helping to reduce and eliminate the frequency of headaches.
Certain forms of this therapy can show you how the body changes based on mental focus, seeing the relationship more clearly can help to control thoughts and reduce anxiety symptoms.
This therapy can help to lower blood pressure, but is not a replacement for typical treatment, any reduction in stress is in general good for heart health.
Large amount of tension can be carried in muscles without even knowing it. This therapy can help to identify where the areas of muscle tension are allowing better control of muscles and pain levels on a daily basis.
Struggling with incontinence and bowel movements can be assisted with this therapy, which includes exercises to strengthen pelvic floor muscles and relaxation techniques which can unravel knots in your stomach.
Individuals who suffer with ADD and other forms of hyperactivity have been shown to benefit from this form of therapy, which helps to focus thoughts and improve concentration skills without the need of using powerful prescription medications.
Biofeedback therapy has no known or reported side effects. It may not be ideal for some patients, particularly in dealing with personal health conditions such as those affecting the nervous system and mental health. Before beginning this form of specialized therapy it is recommended to speak with your doctor about your health status to see if there may be any risks for your individual specific case.