Biofeedback has also been used to help with chemotherapy effects, incontinence and Raynaud’s disease, among other conditions.
Many medical professionals are turning to the therapies as ways to help people along a gentler and more natural path to healing their conditions. The therapies are noninvasive, can be used in place of certain medications with unpleasant side effects, work when medications don’t do so well, are a more natural form of healing for patients with delicate conditions like pregnancy, and put the patient more in charge of treatments.
There are several types of biofeedback techniques. The best one for you depends on specific health problems and the outcome you wish to achieve.
Several techniques may be used in your treatment. They include:
1) Electromyography (EMG) feedback – This provides information on muscle tension in your body and is used to help you focus on relaxing.
2) Galvanic skin response – Your sweat will be monitored, alerting you to anxiety.
3) Temperature biofeedback – These monitor internal temperature, which typically drops when you are anxious. This can alert you to relax.
4) Heart rate variability biofeedback – This monitors heart rate and can help with attempts to control blood pressure, stress, anxiety and lung function.
5) Brainwave biofeedback – Sometimes called EEG biofeedback, for electro-encephalography. This monitors your brain and lets a technician know the impact of pain. The technique seeks to have the patient turn down pain levels and identifies situations that may provoke episodes of periodic pain.