Basics On Biofeedback Therapy Long Island Residents Need To Know

By Jose Reynolds


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.

When you visit your therapist, the first thing that they do is to connect you to some sensors. This may be in the form of a finger sensor or a number of electrodes connected to your skin. The sensors help in determining a number of parameters which are general indicators of stress levels. These include, among others, skin temperature, breathing rate, heart rate and muscular activity among others.

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.

Biofeedback can be done in two main ways. The traditional approach is where the client visits the therapist in their office and after evaluation, a certain form of treatment is prescribed. A different way of achieving this is the use of computer programs. Such programs interpret the data obtained from the sensors and device a treatment plan which the client can access from their personal computer.

A number of exercises are beneficial for persons that are seeking to relax. One of the most frequently used forms is deep breathing. This is a type of breathing that helps an individual oxygenate their blood adequately by breathing fewer times since each breath of air brings in larger volumes of oxygen compared to ordinary breathing. The lower respiration rate also lowers other parameters.

Progressive muscular relaxation is another technique that has been used successfully. In this technique, the patient is taught how to gain control over their muscular system. They learn how to relax and tense their muscles at will. If they happen to suffer from stress they can use these skills to reduce the tension in the muscles which in turn reduces the rate of the other parameters. Other techniques that may be tried out include meditation and guided imagery.

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.

Biofeedback is progressively becoming a much needed form of treatment for varied medical conditions. Its benefits can be realized when used singly or in combination with other conditions. Today, it is being offered by many specialists in the medical field including psychiatrists, psychologists, general doctors and even nurses. The number of centers at which the therapy is available is also growing by the day




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