Biofeedback; Diagnosis.Although biofeedback biofeedback, method for learning to increase one's ability to control biological responses, such as blood pressure, muscle tension, and heart rate. Sophisticated instruments are often used to measure physiological responses and make them apparent to the patient, who is harmless, your health care professional will want to do a thorough exam related to your condition. This gives a better understanding of the causes of your medical condition and guides the biofeedback therapist in developing an appropriate treatment plan. In addition, the physiological testing that is done before beginning treatment can help you measure your progress as you proceed with treatment. Biofeedback is generally not a substitute for conventional medical treatment. Rather, it should be used with any other therapies prescribed by your health care professional. Some biofeedback therapists will ask that you undergo a thorough physical exam before starting therapy. In addition, you'll probably be asked to give a brief medical history. Overall, biofeedback is safe: It is noninvasive and generally has no side effects. However, if you are deeply apprehensive, be sure to discuss your concerns with the therapist. A healthy dose of skepticism and interest in the details of your care should be welcome. If a therapist doesn't answer your questions, seek another therapist. Ultimately, you don't have to believe in biofeedback for it to work. But you will have to practice the techniques to discover whether or not they are effective for you. Biofeedback requires that you be a responsive participant in the process. Whether biofeedback works for you depends on your particular condition and your ability to learn from the feedback you receive. The amount of time you commit to helping your body and mind make the necessary changes is crucial. Once a commitment is there, change will take place, but the extent will depend on the severity of your complaint and the ability of your body to make the necessary changes. Getting started To get started, you'll need a trained professional who can operate the monitoring equipment and interpret the results. Biofeedback professionals come from a number of health-related disciplines, including psychology, psychiatry, social work, medicine, dentistry and nursing. Your health care professional may be able to make a referral. Physicians, dentists, psychologists and others use biofeedback. The psychology or psychiatry department at a nearby university also may be able to point you in the right direction. And check with your health care plan--it may cover your visits to approved biofeedback therapists. Although the practice isn't licensed, biofeedback therapists can receive certification from the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America Biofeedback Certification Institute of America, n.pr an indepen-dent organization founded in 1981 to establish and maintain standards for providing biofeedback services. It also provides certification to practitioners who meet particular requirements. (BCIA BCIA Beijing Capital International Airport BCIA Biofeedback Certification Institute of America BCIA British Columbia Institute of Agrologists BCIA British Columbia Internet Association BCIA Blue Collar Investment Advisors ). To be certified, they must meet certain education requirements, pass an exam and either be licensed in a health care field or work under the supervision of a licensed health care professional. The organization offers referrals (www.bcia.org). BCIA estimates that about 1,500 health care professionals are certified either in general biofeedback, EEG EEG: see electroencephalography. biofeedback or pelvic muscle dysfunction, and they claim that most clinicians have certifications in more than one.. Experts in the industry say that as more insurance companies reimburse biofeedback, they use BCIA certification as a yardstick to measure practitioners. References HeartMath LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control . Available at http://www.heartmath.com. Accessed April 2008. "Biofeedback: Using your mind to improve your health." The Mayo Clinic. January 25, 2008. http://www.mayoclinic.com. Accessed February 2008. "Biofeedback." The University of Maryland University of Maryland can refer to:
"Biofeedback certification." The Biofeedback Certification Institute of America. http://www.bcia.org. Accessed February 2008. "Past speakers 05-06 Season." The Foundation for Mind Being Research. http://www.fmbr.org. Accessed February 2008. "Biofeedback." Biofeedback Certification Institute of America. http://www.bcia.org. Accessed May 2000. "Integration of Behavioral and Relaxation Approaches Into The Treatment of Chronic Pain and Insomnia." National Institutes of Health Technology Assessment Conference Statement (1995). http://text.nlm.nih.gov. Accessed May 2000. "Biofeedback." The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, n.pr an organization founded in 1969 to promote development of biofeedback and applied psychophysiology. . http://www.aapb.org and http://www.aapb.org. Accessed September 2001. Capps, S. "Biofeedback." Lecture. Psychology Department at Southwest Missouri State University Missouri State University is a state university located in Springfield, Missouri. It is the state's second largest university in student enrollment, second only to the University of Missouri. From 1972 to 2005, Missouri State was known as Southwest Missouri State University. . http://aloha.smsu.edu. Accessed May 2000. "What is Biofeedback?" The BioResearch Institute. http://www.7hz.com. Accessed May 2000. Biofeedback Foundation of Europe: http://www.bfe.org Keywords: biofeedback, biofeedback therapists |
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