Office of Health Education & Promotion

Biofeedback

What is biofeedback?

Biofeedback is a method of training a client to use their mind to control their body. With the help of biofeedback machines that measure functions such as heart rate, skin temperature and brain wave activity, clients receive information about their bodily functions so that they may learn to control these processes and relieve pain and illness. Even using a thermometer to detect a fever is using biofeedback at its most basic levels. Biofeedback therapists help clients learn techniques such as relaxation to control these functions, which are usually thought to be automatic. Biofeedback has been found to be useful in treating over 150 diseases, especially in cases related to stress, headaches, high blood pressure and asthma. Therapists can be found in hospitals, physical therapy clinics and medical centers.

What is the history of biofeedback?

Yogis in India have used biofeedback for hundreds of years¹ to control their bodily rhythms and pain tolerance to reach deeper states of meditation, but it wasn't until the mid 20th century that the term biofeedback was coined. The practice began to attract attention in the 1960s when researchers used an electroencephalogram (EEG) test to measure the brain waves of yogis during meditation. The practice was soon recognized for its therapeutic effects and spread throughout North America, the United Kingdom and Australia.

How does it work?

Depending on the client and their goals, the therapist attaches them to a machine that transmits information about a certain biological function. For instance, a client wanting to reduce stress trains with a machine designed to measure and report changes in muscle tension and skin temperature associated with stress. While attached to the machine, the therapist guides the client through various techniques such as relaxation, meditation or visualization to regulate their bodily functions. The client sees what works in relieving their condition through the machine, and will eventually develop techniques for dealing with their condition without the use of medication or invasive procedures. A biofeedback session usually takes 30-60 minutes and therapy can continue for as long as is needed.

What sorts of devices are used?

There are a number of machines used to provide feedback to clients including:

Skin temperature gauge (ST) measures heat changes in the skin. Because temperature often drops when one is under stress, this device can be useful in treating tension, migraines and other stress-related issues.
Galvanic skin response sensor (GSR) measures the skin's electrical conductivity by the amount of sweat produced under stress. It is useful in treating anxiety and phobias.
Electromyographs (EMGs) measures muscle tension. It is commonly used to promote relaxation and to discover ways to manage stress.
Electroencephalographs (EEGs) show brain wave activity. Learning to control brain waves can be useful in treating insomnia, stress, and tension.
Electrocardiographs (ECGs) monitor heart rate. They are useful in controlling rapid heartbeat and high blood pressure.
Respiration feedback devices measure the rate, rhythm and type of breathing. They are used to control hyperventilation, asthma and anxiety.²

For what is biofeedback commonly used?

Biofeedback has been found to help with over 150 conditions such as:

Asthma
Stress
Anxiety
Raynaud's disease
Irritable bowel syndrome
Hot flashes
Nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy
Incontinence
Headaches
Irregular heartbeats (cardiac arrhythmias)
High blood pressure
Epilepsy³

Why should I use biofeedback?

Biofeedback is becoming more popular for many reasons, including the elimination of medication, cost effectiveness, the possibility of treatment for conditions that have not responded well to traditional methods, and an individual's sense of personal control over health care.

However, while evidence that it works does exist, researchers aren't sure of exactly why it works. It is important to contact a qualified biofeedback therapist who is either working under a medical provider, or is licensed in another area of healthcare. To find a therapist, contact the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA) for therapists in your area.

¹ Alternative Healing: The Complete A-Z Guide to more than 150 Alternative Therapies by Mark Kastner, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac., and Hugh Burroughs. Henry Holt and Company: 1996

² Encyclopedia of Healing Therapies by Anne Woodham and Dr. David Peters;

³ Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine. Time, Inc.