What is Biofeedback Therapy? What is it used to treat?
Biofeedback is a technique you can use to learn to control some of your body's functions, such as your heart rate. During biofeedback, you're connected to electrical sensors that help you receive information about your body. This feedback helps you make subtle changes in your body, such as relaxing your breathing and regulating your heart rate variance (described below)
Biofeedback appeals to people for a variety of reasons:
- It's non-invasive.
- It might reduce or eliminate the need for medications.
- It might enhance the benefits of medications.
- It might help women who can't take medication during pregnancy.
- It helps people feel more in control of their health.
Source: Mayo Clinic(link is external)
Which of the Biofeedback services are currently available in primary care?
Currently, the biofeedback program at UHS Primary Care offers two services:
- Coherence practice (mind-body synchronicity; explained below)
- Test/Performance anxiety management
Both services measure your heart rate variability (HRV) and focus on practicing to learn to control your breathing to achieve an active, grounded state of mind and body for better performance and reduced anxiousness.
We plan to add additional biofeedback services to the program at a later time.
How does Biofeedback therapy work? (what to expect during the session)
Some biofeedback devices, such as the one you’ll use at the Tang Center, measure physiological changes in your body, such as your heart rate activity and skin changes, by using one or more sensors attached to your fingers or your ear. The sensors plug into your computer.
Using computer graphics and prompts, the devices then help you master stress by helping you to pace your breathing, relax your muscles, and think positive self-statements about your ability to cope. Studies show that these types of devices might be effective in improving responses during stress and inducing feelings of calm and well-being.
Source: Mayo Clinic(link is external)
The primary reasons to use guided breathing patterns with biofeedback services are:
- To promote balance in the nervous system
- To practice meditation and self-awareness
- To activate the parasympathetic and recovery systems
- To open up the respiratory pathways that may be suffering from prolonged shallow breathing
Source: Elite HRV(link is external)