Biofeedback is an alternative medicine approach that teaches people to change the way their bodies function. It is a mind-body therapy that may improve your physical and mental health.
During a biofeedback session, a practitioner uses monitoring equipment and instruments to measure your body’s functions. Based on feedback from the instruments, the practitioner suggests how you can create physiologic changes. With education and practice, you can learn to make those bodily changes without equipment.
What happens during biofeedback?
During a biofeedback session, your provider places painless sensors on your skin. The sensors measure physiological signals from your body, such as:
Breathing.
Heart rate.
Muscle activity.
Sweat.
Muscle movement and tension, using surface electromyography, or sEMG.
Electrical brain activity, using neurofeedback_ or _EEG biofeedback.
Skin temperature.
A nearby screen displays the results, which your practitioner will explain. Then your practitioner will suggest strategies to change how your body is functioning. The practitioner may ask you to:
Change how you sit, stand or move: Positioning your body differently may ease muscle tension.
Alter your breathing: Breathing patterns can help calm anxiety.
Release muscles: If you concentrate on relaxing your muscles, it may relieve pain.
Use mindfulness and focus: Thinking about different things can help you control your breathing or slow your heart rate.
Take a test: If you try to solve a math problem or riddle, you can see how stress affects your body’s response.
As you try each suggestion, you can watch how it affects the results on the screen in real time. With practice, you can learn to create the same bodily changes without the feedback screen or the practitioner’s prompts.
How often should I get treatments?
Some consider biofeedback a type of training, rather than a treatment. For it to work, you must attend multiple sessions. You’ll need to participate actively and practice between appointments.
The number of treatments varies widely, depending on the:
Condition you are trying to manage.
Severity of your symptoms.
Response of your body.
Amount you practice between sessions.
What are the risks and benefits of this procedure?
Biofeedback can help you feel more in control of your health and wellness. It is noninvasive, and there are no side effects or potential complications.
With practice during and between sessions, you can learn how to make small changes to relieve stress, improve performance, and ease aches and pains.
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