Tuesday 18 July 2017

By Jose Reynolds


Psychological and physical health are very closely related. Physical illnesses frequently have a psychological component. The reverse is also true. Biofeedback is a therapy that helps one achieve a good physical health by taking charge of their mind. The mechanism through which this occurs is not well known but the general belief is that a state of relaxation is responsible. When seeking biofeedback therapy Long Island residents should know some things beforehand.

For the therapy to be carried out, electrodes are first attached to the skin. Fingers sensors may also be used to capture various parameters such as the heart rate, respiratory rate, skin temperature and muscle activity among others. These are all projected onto a screen graphically for ease of interpretation. Certain values will be displayed when one is stressed, relaxed or anywhere in between.

Whenever a person is stressed out, there are a number of things that happen in the body. One of the most significant things is the production of chemical known as the stress hormones. This hormones have a number of effects including an increase in the heart rate, increased sweating and body temperature and increased muscular activity among others. A relaxed state gives a reversal of this effect.

Biofeedback can be administered in two different ways. The first is the traditional approach where the patient pays the therapist a visit and explains their problem. The sensors are fixed and if some form of stress is identified, therapy is initiated. The second and newer form is the use of computer programs that can interpret the data from the sensors and formulate and treatment plan for the client.

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.

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.

There are several conditions that have been shown to benefit from this form of therapy. They include chronic pain (such as low back pain, fibromyalgia and pelvic inflammatory disease among others). Intractable headaches present a huge challenge to healthcare practitioners and the continued use of medication has the risk of leading to unwanted side effects. Other conditions include anxiety disorders, urinary incontinence, epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma among others.

Biofeedback therapy is a form of treatment that has been gaining popularity by the day. This is because it is now being used alongside the management of many conditions either singly or in combination with other forms of therapy. The treatment is offered by many specialists including psychologists, psychiatrists and general doctors. The list of conditions that could potentially be managed using this option continues to grow by the day.




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