What Is It?

Biofeedback Therapy is a learning tool that allows you to listen to your body in new ways. It provides information that is helpful in learning to control physical and emotional reactions to pain, illness, injury and other stressful experiences. Provided as an individualized therapy, Biofeedback Therapy increases awareness of how thoughts and feelings affect our physical well being. With training and this special type of feedback, individuals learn how to modify their reactions to pain, thereby gaining a sense of control over their medical condition. A trained therapist will guide you to understand your reactions to pain and will train you on ways to change those reactions so that you feel better and function more effectively.

Conditions

What conditions does biofeedback treat?

• Pain conditions such as chronic back and neck pain, migraine and tension headaches, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome and CRPS.
• Various stress-sensitive conditions such as hypertension, irritable bowel, tinnitus, asthma, Raynauds Syndrome and insomnia.
• Neuromuscular conditions resulting from stroke or accidents in which the prognosis for regaining use of limbs is medically indicated but for which therapies are not showing expected benefits.

In General

Biofeedback Therapy is helpful for individuals who are not managing their chronic medical problems as well as they want to and/or believe that their medical condition controls their life. These individuals often want to take a more active role in their medical treatment.

Additionally, individuals who are prone to anxiety, or are aware of the effect that stress is having on their chronic pain or general health, can benefit from Biofeedback Therapy.

Prior To Your Biofeedback Consultation

Since physiological changes are a vital part of successfully using biofeedback, it is necessary that our physicians be involved prior to your initiation of a Biofeedback Therapy. This is especially important when you are taking medication. As you learn to more effectively manage your medical condition with Biofeedback Therapy, your medication needs will be reviewed by your physician and discussed with you.

Initial Session - What To Expect

After reviewing your medical records, the biofeedback therapist will ask for a detailed history of the factors that affect your medical conditions and how those factors have been handled by you and your physician. Next, the therapist will assess your physical and emotional reactions to pain, stress, and relaxation using biofeedback equipment. Once we review the collected data, we will develop a biofeedback program designed for your specific needs.

How Long Is Treatment

Typically, eight to twelve individual one-hour sessions are recommended. Sessions occur once or twice per week. Some individuals respond to treatment so quickly that less than eight sessions are necessary.

Requirements

The only requirement for a successful outcome is your genuine desire to better manage your health and your willingness to practice home assignments. As new skills are practiced, integrating them into your daily life will gradually become more normal and natural.