Basics On Biofeedback Therapy Long Island Residents Need To Know

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.

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 is used for the management of various conditions. Many types of chronic pain such as fibromyalgia, migraines, low back pain and chronic pelvic pain have shown some good response to this form of treatment. Others include anxiety disorders, epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and urinary incontinence 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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