Biofeedback

• Physiological Basis

  Increased heart rate, breathing rate, muscle tension, sweating, shaking, clammy/hot.

  These responses are all automatic responses, they happen involuntarily.

  The basis of biofeedback is to find a way to control these physiological reaction sin urn, reducing the stress/anxiety that accompany them.
• What is biofeedback?


  A biofeedback machine provides detailed information about functions like heart rate, muscle tension, and blood pressure, presented through sound/tones or light flashing on TV screens. It encourages people to try strategies like muscle relaxation, mediation, or altering sitting posture to reduce stress-induced bodily responses, aiming to transfer these strategies to real-world situations.
• Types: 1. Awareness and physiological feedback

  Develop client’s awareness of their physiological response to stress

  ·         Breathing rate via chest band

  ·         Heart rate via sensors on the fingers or chest

  ·         Sweat via sensors on the skin

  ·         Blood pressure

  ·         Muscle tension via sensors on muscles

  · Converted to sounds/signals or even games (incentives)
• Types: 2. Relaxation training and control


  ·         Use relaxation techniques and physiological feedback to take control of responses to stressors

  ·         E.g: use of games or visual/audio heart rate graphics

  ·         Relaxation techniques are used, and the client can see how the technique is controlling their physical response to stress

  Uses positive reinforcement (operant conditioning) to help the client make progress.
• Types: 3. Transfer

  ·         Stage 2 occurs in a calm safe environment

  ·         Stage 3 involves transferring the relaxation techniques to real life situations

  ·         Portable biofeedback machines can be used to provide feedback

  ·         Smart phone/watch apps can also now be used
• What can biofeedback be used for? Chronic Pain:

  by helping you identifying tight muscles and then learn to relax those muscles
• What can biofeedback be used for? Headaches:

  muscle tension and stress can trigger migraines and other types of headaches, and can make headache symptoms worse. There is good evidence that biofeedback therapy can help relax muscles and erase stress to reduce both frequency and severity of headaches.
• What can biofeedback be used for? Anxiety

  Anxiety relief is one of most common uses of biofeedback. Biofeedback lets you become more aware of body’s responses when you’re stressed and anxious. Then you can learn how to control those responses
• What can biofeedback be used for? High blood pressure


  evidence on use of biofeedback for high blood pressure has been mixed. Although technique does seem to lower blood pressure slightly, it isn’t as effective as medication for blood pressure control
• Strengths

  ·         Effective for some people, especially children who like technology

  ·         Teaches you to recognise our own stress symptoms. After time people can recognise when they are feeling stressed without the machine

  ·         Research based of effectively improving client’s physiological response to stress (Lemaire et al 2022)
• Weaknesses:

  ·         Expensive

  ·         Some argue it is no more effective than muscle relaxation techniques

  ·         Requires specialist equipment

  ·         Regular practise needed for any beneficial effects

  ·         Can be difficult to transfer from a therapy environment to the real world

  ·         Takes time, commitment and motivation.