Biofeedback is the use of instrumentation to receive information about occurrences within the body. People fed back such information can learn to control these body processes.
Biofeedback involves three phases: measuring the physiological parameter, converting this measurement to some understandable form, and feeding back this information to the person learning to control his or her body processes.
Biofeedback has been used to help people control their heart rates, skin's electrical conductance, blood vessels' dilation, and brain waves. Biofeedback has also been used to control muscle tension, blood pressure, penile erection, and secretion of hydrochloric acid.
Electromyographic biofeedback has been used to treat asthma, hypertension, ulcers, muscle spasms, migraine and tension headaches, colitis, cerebral palsy, and other conditions.
Thermal biofeedback has been used to treat Raynaud's disease, migraine headaches, and hypertension.
When used for relaxation purposes, biofeedback is often employed in conjunction with another relaxation technique. Oftentimes, autogenics or meditation is used during biofeedback training.
There are many types of relaxation techniques other than meditation, autogenic training, progressive relaxation, and the use of biofeedback instrumentation. Among these are diaphragmatic breathing, body scanning, massage and acupressure, yoga and stretching, repetitive prayer, Quieting Reflex, the Instant Calming Sequence, mindfulness, music, Tai Chi, and pet ownership.
