Tuesday 18 July 2017

Facts On Biofeedback Therapy Long Island Patients Should 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.

Stressful situations are associated with release of some hormones into the circulation. Examples include adrenaline and cortisol. The hormones have varied effects that include, among others, increasing the heart rate, the blood pressure, the body temperature and the tension within muscles. When an individual is relaxed, the levels of these hormones are much lower and so are the various rates. This could also mean that if one is able to lower these parameters, they can help their body relax.

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 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 technique that is used commonly is progressive muscle relaxation. The subject is taught how to tighten and relax different groups of muscles in a manner that eventually helps them gain more control over their bodies. During stressful situations, they can voluntarily relax their tense muscles which works to improve their overall wellbeing. Other successful methods include guided imagery and mindful meditation.

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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