What is Biofeedback?

Biofeedback is a type of alternative method that involves taking readings of a patient’s body functions and relaying this information back to the patient in order to train them to control these functions.

These bodily functions include blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, and skin temperature.  The theory is that a person can control these functions within themselves once they learn to recognize how their body responds to certain things.

Biofeedback is used for the treatment of many types of ailments, including ADHD and muscle tension.  It is also being used to treat hypertension.

There are several modalities for biofeedback:

Electromyography, or EMG is the most common modality.  Electrodes measure muscle activity in order to help control muscle tension and relaxation.  It can be used to ease back pain, neck pain, incontinence, migraines, and cluster headaches.  It may also be used to treat some types of paralysis resulting from stroke, spinal cord lesions, and Cerebral Palsy.

Electroencephalography, or EEG, measures brain waves.  These waves correspond to certain states of brain activity, including beta waves, alpha waves, theta waves, and delta waves.  They are used to treat anxiety and ADHD and this is considered very effective.

Photoplethysmography , or PPG, measures blood flow, heart rare, and heart rate variability.  This is especially seful for treating cardiac arrhythmia and regulating the heart rate.

Pneumography measures the movements of the chest and abdomen during breathing.  It can help treat apnea, reverse breathing, and thoracic breathing.

Electrodermography measures sweat gland activity.  This information can be useful in treating stuttering, anxiety, and phobias.

While biofeedback is sometimes viewed with some skepticism by medical professionals, it has been praised by others.  It is a fairly expensive procedure, but it is worth pursuing if other methods of treatment have failed.