The mind has a great influence on our general wellbeing. It is not uncommon for people to experience physical discomfort for causes that are entirely psychological. Biofeedback is a therapy that helps people to gain control of their minds and use this control to attain good health. Although the exact mechanism of action remains obscure, it is believed that a state of relaxation achieved using the therapy is responsible. Before undergoing biofeedback therapy Long Island need to know a number of things.
The therapy requires that some sensors be placed on the body before it can be carried out. The sensors may come in the form of electrodes that are connected to the skin or a simple finger sensor. Parameters of interest include blood pressure, heart rate, muscle activity and breathing rate among others. Whenever an individual is stressed out, these rates speed up. The reverse happens when one is relaxed.
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 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 therapy is effective for a number of conditions. A common example includes the many forms of chronic pain (such as fibromyalgia, pelvic inflammatory disease and low back pain among others). Intractable headache is another problem for which the treatment has been used. This is because prolonged use of analgesic agents poses the risk of unwanted side effects.
Biofeedback is progressively becoming a much needed form of treatment for varied medical conditions. Its benefits can be realized when used singly or in combination with other conditions. Today, it is being offered by many specialists in the medical field including psychiatrists, psychologists, general doctors and even nurses. The number of centers at which the therapy is available is also growing by the day
The therapy requires that some sensors be placed on the body before it can be carried out. The sensors may come in the form of electrodes that are connected to the skin or a simple finger sensor. Parameters of interest include blood pressure, heart rate, muscle activity and breathing rate among others. Whenever an individual is stressed out, these rates speed up. The reverse happens when one is relaxed.
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 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 therapy is effective for a number of conditions. A common example includes the many forms of chronic pain (such as fibromyalgia, pelvic inflammatory disease and low back pain among others). Intractable headache is another problem for which the treatment has been used. This is because prolonged use of analgesic agents poses the risk of unwanted side effects.
Biofeedback is progressively becoming a much needed form of treatment for varied medical conditions. Its benefits can be realized when used singly or in combination with other conditions. Today, it is being offered by many specialists in the medical field including psychiatrists, psychologists, general doctors and even nurses. The number of centers at which the therapy is available is also growing by the day
About the Author:
Find an overview of the benefits of using biofeedback therapy Long Island services and more info about a holistic neuropsychological practice at http://neuropsychli.com/services now.