Biofeedback Techniques - Total Control?

What do you do when you're too hot? Or, when you notice you're putting on some weight? In the first case you might open a window or take off your jacket. And in the second you might go on a diet.

This is exactly what biofeedback techniques do. They help you measure various bodily functions and then train you to control them mainly through relaxation and stress reduction.

You can use biofeedback to control heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, muscle tension. And this leads to improvements in your physical and mental health.

It's is an effective therapy for treating high blood pressure, migraine, anxiety, chronic pain, urinary incontinence and so on.

Different Types of Biofeedback Techniques

Electrodes are attached to your skin to measures your physiological activity and the results are displayed on the monitor. You can track your progress and eventually learn to control these processes to attain good health.

Depending upon the health condition you are treating and the type of physiological function you are monitoring, different types of biofeedback techniques can be used.

Let's have a look at the most popular biofeedback techniques used :

• Electromyogram (EMG)
• Electroencephalogram (EEG)
• Temperature
• Electrodermal Response

Electromyogram (EMG) Biofeedback Techniques

This technique is used to measure Muscle tension. It's quite an effective way to treat paralysed patients. The EMG machine amplifies the electrical sounds emitted from a paralysed limb. When the patient becomes aware of the activity within the paralysed body part, his nervous system is stimulated.

This improves the patients muscle activity. Eventually they may be able to move their damaged limb.

EMG techniques are also used for treating backache, neck pain, migraine/headaches, asthma, ulcers and many more such health problems.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) Biofeedback Techniques

An Electroencephalogram or EEG machine is specifically used for monitoring brainwaves. Our brain emits electrical signals of different frequencies, each of which has a specific function and impact on our body. EEG machines can monitor these brainwaves and can offer a solution for mental and emotional disorders. There are four kinds of brainwaves - Alpha, Beta, Theta and Delta.

While Alpha brainwaves relate to relaxation and calmness, Theta brainwaves can make you feel drowsy. Thus if a person is suffering from insomnia, they can benefit by increasing Delta brainwave activity that leads to deep sleep.

EEG biofeedback can be used in conjunction with mainstream treatment for treating various neurological and emotional disorders.

Temperature Biofeedback Techniques

With Temperature biofeedback, you can monitor skin temperature and can treat circulatory disorders. Monitoring skin temperature can give you more control over your health, and can even help you deal with stress and anxiety in a better way.

Temperature Biofeedback has also been very effective in treating migraine and stress-related disorders.

Electrodermal Response (EDR) Biofeedback Technique

Electrodermal response or Galvanic skin response is a method used for monitoring the activity of sweat glands. A small unit of current (painless) is run through your skin to observe the changes that occur in your sweat glands.

This biofeedback technique is highly effective in treating phobias/fear, emotional disorders, stammering etc. EDR technique is also used for Lie Detection Tests, as it can catch subtle changes that occur in your skin when you are lying or are stressed.

Biofeedback Techniques - The Key to Good Health

Biofeedback is used by psychiatrists, dentists, nurses, therapists and other medical professionals. It helps you understand your body in a better way - so you can monitor and control your own physiology.

I've met experienced practitioners who say biofeedback gives you complete control over your body. So you can treat many health disorders without the problem of side effects common with medication. But I've found biofeedback is often carried out along with the mainstream treatment process.

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