Biofeedback An Instrument
of Relaxation
Biofeedback An Instrument of
Relaxation
In the 1970s, in some
restaurants, you could find biofeedback
machines. They offered you all sorts of
information about your body.
Today, biofeedback is still
considered a legitimate way to attain
relaxation.
It’s a technique that uses
monitoring equipment in order to help
control stress.
Biofeedback is rooted in the
idea that the autonomic nervous system
can be trained.
For instance, equipment can
determine heart rates, muscle tension,
and blood pressure while individuals try
to change their breathing, thinking, or
posture.
By working with the machines,
individuals can conceivably learn the
best methods for relaxation. However, the
equipment can only be monitored by
someone with specific training in
biofeedback.
According to Dr. Leonard Holmes,
feedback can come in a variety of forms:
a line on a computer screen, a tone of a
certain pitch, or a blinking
light.
A typical type of biofeedback is
the EMG, which indicates the tension in
your muscles.
It is important to note that
biofeedback is not active
treatment.
It is up to you decide what you
can do in order to lower your heartbeat
and reduce your stress level. If you
suffer from migraines or neck pain,
biofeedback can also help you to relax
your muscles so that you don’t experience
as much or possibly any pain.
In order to determine whether
biofeedback would be effective in your
particular case, a stress profile might
be used.
A Monitoring device will
determine your heart rate, blood
pressure, and temperature. You are then
exposed to stress, such as a history
quiz.
As a result, the biofeedback
professional will have some idea how your
body reacts to stressful
situations.
Interestingly enough, insurance
companies have been known to cover
biofeedback treatment. For instance,
biofeedback may be covered for
headaches.
However, other companies view
biofeedback as entirely experimental.
When biofeedback first came onto the
scene, some practitioners believed that
it would enable us to have nearly
complete control over our
bodies.
However, that is not the case.
In many situations, our bodies are
basically operating under "automatic
pilot." However, it is true that
biofeedback can be helpful to some
individuals, particularly those who are
looking for a means for
relaxation.
Biofeedback is used in a number
of cases today. For instance, it has been
used to treat headaches, stomach
problems, high blood pressure, abnormal
heart rhythms, epilepsy, and
paralysis.
A number of different kinds of
health professionals use biofeedback,
including physical therapists, nurses,
psychologists, psychiatrists, and
dentists.
Once the biofeedback machine
detects certain physiological reactions,
patients usually engage in various
relaxation exercises.
Also, you as a patient may learn
about the triggers that cause certain
physiological problems. You can also
learn how to deal more effectively with
stressful issues that appear in your
life.
It is important, however, to
note that biofeedback is not a quick fix.
It cannot in itself cure any
illness.
It is simply a tool that you can
use to take control of your health and
well-being. With biofeedback, individuals
can be empowered to seek solutions to
common health problems.
Unlike other treatment programs,
biofeedback requires of great deal from
the patient in order to be
successful.
Would you personally benefit
from biofeedback? That depends on your
willingness to experiment and your own
comfort level.
If you believe that biofeedback
could be beneficial, you should discuss
it with your doctor.
He or she might want to
determine first whether traditional
treatment would be better in your
particular case.
In most cases, you will need to
have a complete physical exam before you
engage in biofeedback. You may even have
to undergo a neurological
test.
If you’re considering
biofeedback, you should ask your family
physician for a referral to a biofeedback
expert. You’ll want to make sure that you
are dealing with a trained
professional.
Keep an open mind during the
treatment. If it makes you uncomfortable,
you might be better off looking at other
treatment options.
While it first began in the
1960s, biofeedback remains an
experimental technology. Therefore, don’t
be disappointed if it doesn’t seem to
work in your particular case.
However, there is little harm in
trying it. In fact, it could make you
more attuned to your body and better able
to manage the stress in your
life.
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