Biofeedback therapy is based on the assumption that once an individual is in a position to harness the power of their mind and understanding their physiology of their body, they are in a great position to control their health. Scientists are yet to determine how exactly this therapy works but the general belief is that it helps with relaxation which in turn helps in managing stress related conditions. If they intend to benefit from biofeedback therapy long Island residents need to understand a number of things.
The therapy requires that some sensors be placed on the body before it can be carried out. The sensors may come in the form of electrodes that are connected to the skin or a simple finger sensor. Parameters of interest include blood pressure, heart rate, muscle activity and breathing rate among others. Whenever an individual is stressed out, these rates speed up. The reverse happens when one is relaxed.
In general when one is under some form of stress whether physical or psychological, their heart rate rises. There is associated increase in the blood pressure and a more rapid breathing rate. More often than not, there is increased sweating to help excrete some products of metabolism whose rate is increased as well. Conversely, the rates are lowered under relaxed conditions. Looked from another angle, being able to lower these parameters helps one achieve a state of relaxation.
Traditionally, biofeedback is conducted in the presence of a therapist but modern forms of treatment also encompass computer programs that aid in self-therapy. The computer uses the data collected by the sensor, synthesized it and produces an output that can be easily understood even by the lay person. The advantage with seeing a therapist in person is that they are trained to help you practice relaxation activities which may not be possible with the computer program.
A number of relaxation exercises have been shown to be effective in helping stressed out individuals. They include for example, deep breathing. This is essentially a breathing technique where a person uses their abdominal muscles to compress the lungs and expand the chest wall cavity in alternate fashion. Since the expansion and relaxation of lungs is increased, the number of breaths needed per minute will also be lowered hence a reduced respiratory rate.
Another useful technique is that which helps the individual achieve progressive relaxation of their muscles. The subject is trained over several days or weeks to relax and tense their muscles at will. As a result their learn how to reverse the effect of stress on their muscles. Other options that may be considered include guided imagery and meditation among others. These mainly focus on the avoidance of negative thoughts.
Biofeedback therapy is effective for a number of conditions. A common example includes the many forms of chronic pain (such as fibromyalgia, pelvic inflammatory disease and low back pain among others). Intractable headache is another problem for which the treatment has been used. This is because prolonged use of analgesic agents poses the risk of unwanted side effects.
There is growing acceptance of biofeedback for the management of a numerous conditions. It is now being used singly or alongside other treatment options. Practitioners that have found the therapy useful include general doctors, nurses, psychologists and psychiatrists. All indications are that the number of conditions that will benefit from the treatment is bound to keep growing.
The therapy requires that some sensors be placed on the body before it can be carried out. The sensors may come in the form of electrodes that are connected to the skin or a simple finger sensor. Parameters of interest include blood pressure, heart rate, muscle activity and breathing rate among others. Whenever an individual is stressed out, these rates speed up. The reverse happens when one is relaxed.
In general when one is under some form of stress whether physical or psychological, their heart rate rises. There is associated increase in the blood pressure and a more rapid breathing rate. More often than not, there is increased sweating to help excrete some products of metabolism whose rate is increased as well. Conversely, the rates are lowered under relaxed conditions. Looked from another angle, being able to lower these parameters helps one achieve a state of relaxation.
Traditionally, biofeedback is conducted in the presence of a therapist but modern forms of treatment also encompass computer programs that aid in self-therapy. The computer uses the data collected by the sensor, synthesized it and produces an output that can be easily understood even by the lay person. The advantage with seeing a therapist in person is that they are trained to help you practice relaxation activities which may not be possible with the computer program.
A number of relaxation exercises have been shown to be effective in helping stressed out individuals. They include for example, deep breathing. This is essentially a breathing technique where a person uses their abdominal muscles to compress the lungs and expand the chest wall cavity in alternate fashion. Since the expansion and relaxation of lungs is increased, the number of breaths needed per minute will also be lowered hence a reduced respiratory rate.
Another useful technique is that which helps the individual achieve progressive relaxation of their muscles. The subject is trained over several days or weeks to relax and tense their muscles at will. As a result their learn how to reverse the effect of stress on their muscles. Other options that may be considered include guided imagery and meditation among others. These mainly focus on the avoidance of negative thoughts.
Biofeedback therapy is effective for a number of conditions. A common example includes the many forms of chronic pain (such as fibromyalgia, pelvic inflammatory disease and low back pain among others). Intractable headache is another problem for which the treatment has been used. This is because prolonged use of analgesic agents poses the risk of unwanted side effects.
There is growing acceptance of biofeedback for the management of a numerous conditions. It is now being used singly or alongside other treatment options. Practitioners that have found the therapy useful include general doctors, nurses, psychologists and psychiatrists. All indications are that the number of conditions that will benefit from the treatment is bound to keep growing.
About the Author:
Find an overview of the benefits of using biofeedback therapy Long Island services and more info about a holistic neuropsychological practice at http://neuropsychli.com/services now.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment