About Biofeedback Machines
Biofeedback is a technique with increasingly positive results and correlating popularity. The patient is hooked up to a series of sensors that detect a range of physiological activity; this enables the natural treatment of migraines, hypertension and many other disorders.
History
Biofeedback is a technique first developed in rats by a psychologist named Neal Miller, who combined the idea of conditioning with the body's physiological responses. Basically, anything the body does that can be measured can also be controlled; for this reason, Dr. Miller believed, the physical manifestations of stress can be controlled, conditioned and counteracted. That school of thought dovetails with a centuries-old study of "consciousness" developed by yogis and philosophers, who believe the mind/body connection is so strong that it can be controlled and bridged.
Function
When a patient is hooked up to a biofeedback machine--as for migraine headaches--he will be instructed to relax. One common procedure is to measure the muscle tension in the body, then slowly train the patient to release that tension, all while measuring the results on the machine so there is tangible feedback from the body. (Hence the term "biofeedback.")
Features
On the efficacy scale determined by the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, certain disorders or problems respond more efficiently to biofeedback. On a scale of 1 to 5, ADHD, migraine and tension headaches, anxiety and hypertension all score a 4; female urinary incontinence is the only problem/disorder to score a 5.
Types
There are many types of biofeedback machines, all of which measure a different physiological effect. The most common, the electromyograph, measures muscle tension. Feedback thermometers are another type, and are based on the finding that stress changes the body's temperature. For anxiety, phobias and stuttering, an electrodermograph measures the stimulation of the sweat glands. Electroencephalographs measure brain waves and the corresponding mental states, like being awake or asleep.
Benefits
Biofeedback can be a highly effective, non-invasive conditioning tool to teach a patient to be more in control of her physiological responses, particularly to stress. It can be effective in a relatively low number of sessions, and is even available for home use.
Tags: Biofeedback technique, muscle tension, patient hooked, physiological responses