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Biofeedback
What is biofeedback?
Biofeedback is a therapy that trains you to be aware of your body and how it works. Then you learn to change those patterns to reduce or
eliminate your symptoms. You can learn to control body functions that most people usually don't think of as within their control. Among these
are:
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blood pressure
heart rate
muscle tension
many brain wave patterns.
When is it used?
Biofeedback may be used to help treat:
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tension headaches
chronic back or neck pain
high blood pressure
anxiety disorders
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), especially for adults and older children
grinding of the teeth.
Along with medical care, biofeedback can be helpful for:
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migraine headaches
chronic depression
asthma
epilepsy
chronic pain
TMJ (jaw joint) problems
irritable bowel syndrome
chronic fatigue syndrome.
How do I prepare for training?
You only need to accept that you can learn to control your own body to improve your health. You should expect it to take a number of therapy
sessions (usually between 6 and 30) to teach you the needed skills.
What happens during training?
Your therapist connects you to electronic equipment that gives you information about the body functions you need to learn to control. The
equipment gives feedback you can see (usually on a computer or TV screen) or hear (with beeps or tones) on the status of those body
functions. During the treatment sessions you will be asked to relax, often in a recliner chair, and pay attention to how you feel and how that
changes the information provided by the screen or sounds.
The first one or two sessions are usually spent just getting readings of your usual functioning. This is called your baseline and is used later to
measure your progress.
There are 3 common types of biofeedback:
Thermal biofeedback: In this procedure the equipment, usually attached to the hand or foot, measures skin temperature. Skin temperature
is a good way to tell how tense or relaxed you are. When you are relaxed, the skin temperature of your hands and feet rises. Problems
related to tension such as headaches and pain are often treated well with this form of biofeedback.
Patient handouts provided by Merck Medicus. Copyright © 2012-2013 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.
Patient Handouts
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Electromyogram (EMG) biofeedback: Small sensors that measure muscle activity are put on your skin of the neck, back, or forehead. This
kind of biofeedback may be used to treat problems such as migraine headaches, chronic pain, and anxiety disorders.
Electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback: One or more small sensors are placed on your scalp. They measure electrical activity in the
brain (called brain waves).
What happens after training?
Between biofeedback sessions you may be asked to practice exercises in relaxation or muscle control. This strengthens the learning from
treatment sessions. Once you have completed treatment you may need occasional "booster" sessions to help maintain the control you have
learned.
What are the benefits?
Biofeedback is a natural treatment in which you learn to help yourself. It involves no medicines or medical procedures.
What are the risks?
The biggest risk is trying to use biofeedback for a problem so serious that medical care should be given first. It is very important to talk to
your healthcare provider before stopping other treatment and using only biofeedback.
When should I call my healthcare provider?
Call for advice if during the course of biofeedback training your condition gets worse.
Patient handouts provided by Merck Medicus. Copyright © 2012-2013 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.