What is Biofeedback?
Biofeedback is a new innovation in the field of medical science. It opens a new channel of communication between you and your own body. Becoming aware of your own body can help it to become more functional. Biofeedback helps lower blood pressure, eases muscle tension, promotes functioning of your neurons, and regulates heart rate.
Biofeedback is a painless procedure that involves attachment of electrodes to a person’s skin which emits electrical signals showing muscular activity of the body. From the signals received, it can be detected early if one is experiencing stress. Thus, you could employ early measures that could help you manage it. Biofeedback is an effective therapy for many condition such as high blood pressure, epilepsy, migraine, tension headaches, chronic pain and a lot more.
Since biofeedback is a form of therapeutic massage, it can enhance blood circulation. Hence, it keeps your cells nourished and healthy through the nutrients and oxygen that it carries. Furthermore, biofeedback is also useful in improving conditions of body systems such as the nervous system, skeletal system, muscular system, and lymphatic system most especially after an injury or illness.
Four Major Types of Biofeedback:
- EMG Muscle Tension Biofeedback
This particular type of biofeedback gives signals of muscular activity from a specific group of muscles. There are auditory (clicking sounds) and visual (digital display) biofeedback that you can use depending on your preference. Through EMG muscle tension biofeedback, you can learn how to voluntarily relax your tensed and weary muscles. In this type of biofeedback, the goal is to learn how to control your muscles whenever you are experiencing tension. Among the conditions that EMG biofeedback proved to be advantageous are insomnia, anxiety, headaches, and phobias in general.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) Biofeedback
This type of biofeedback is also called neurofeedback. The human brain emits electrical activity in waves that can be measured by a device called an electroencephalograph (EEG). With the help of EEG biofeedback, it is made possible for you to visualize your brain wave pattern on a monitor. Through this you will discover that you can actually change your brainwaves as you desire. But what is the importance of altering your brainwaves? And why is it necessary to do such? The answer is very simple. Through EEG biofeedback you will recognize 4 brainwave patterns namely: the theta, alpha, beta, and delta. It is important to know that the alpha wave is linked to a relaxed state. You can utilize your knowledge about these patterns as a stress relief method. The goal is to induce alpha brainwave patterns because such pattern is associated with calmness and relaxation.
- Skin Temperature Biofeedback
Thermal biofeedback is another term for skin temperature biofeedback. During stress, blood vessels become constricted and pass less warm blood. Thermal biofeedback training helps individuals combat the stress response which is measurable as an increase in skin temperature. It focuses on thermoregulation by helping you alter the temperature of your hand. Thermal biofeedback is one of the first biofeedback techniques that has been established for healing purposes and the most widely used technique.
- Galvanic Skin Response (GSR)
GSR reveals the activity of the sweat glands as well as the changes in the sympathetic nervous system. As we all know, perspiration is one of the evident signs of a stressed out and anxious person. The moisture produced by sweat heightens the electrical conductance of a tiny electrical current between two points on the skin. Phobias and hypertension are just some of the conditions that this type of biofeedback has been found beneficial.
References:
http://www.medindia.net/patients/lifestyleandwellness/biofeedback-treatment.htm
http://www.biofeedbacknyc.com/biofeedback.php
