Biofeedback; Facts to Know.Biofeedback isn't a treatment or a cure. It's a set of techniques or methods for helping you become aware of your body processes in order to control them. These changes, not the biofeedback equipment itself, are what improve your health. Biofeedback should never be used for treating symptoms that haven't been checked out by your primary health care professional. Biofeedback uses audio, visual and digital cues to reflect changes in your physiology. Biofeedback is frequently used to help people with stress-related disorders, insomnia and chronic pain. Currently, over 150 applications of biofeedback have been described and evaluated. The term "biofeedback" comes from "biological feedback" and came into use around 1969. Biofeedback is emerging as a therapy for vulvovaginal vulvovaginal /vul·vo·vag·i·nal/ (-vaj´i-n'l) pertaining to the vulva and vagina. vul·vo·vag·i·nal adj. Of or relating to the vulva and the vagina. pain. The rationale is the same as for incontinence--biofeedback can help you train and strengthen your pelvic muscles, which in turn can help you control the muscle spasms that often accompany this condition. It is also useful in helping eliminate vaginismus vaginismus /vag·i·nis·mus/ (vaj?i-niz´mus) painful spasm of the vagina due to involuntary muscular contraction, usually severe enough to prevent intercourse; the cause may be organic or psychogenic. , painful vaginal spasms often associated with intercourse. Although biofeedback therapy is not licensed by the state, you can find accredited practitioners through 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. (www.bcia.org). Biofeedback crosses many health care categories. It's used in several disciplines, including psychology, dentistry, physical therapy, pain management and internal medicine. (In fact, some nurses, physicians and dentists are also biofeedback therapists.) Researchers aren't exactly sure why biofeedback works, but most think that learning how to relax can help the patient learn from biofeedback. (Relaxation and stress-reduction exercises are an important part of biofeedback therapy.) Cognitive restructuring and behavior modification are often included in biofeedback therapy when appropriate to help patients become aware of their responsibility and/or role in their health and well being. When treating children, parental counseling is typically provided as well. Biofeedback is painless. 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 |
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