What is Biofeedback?
Biofeedback may sound like a complex word, but we actually use this technique every day.  Biofeedback is when you use information (-feedback) about your body (bio-) from an outside source, such as a mirror or scale, to change something about yourself.  The change may be external, for example brushing your hair, or internal, as in slowing your heart rate by breathing deeply.  The outside source can actually be part of you.  An example is when we use our fingers to take our pulse.

Biofeedback is used by many medical and healthcare clinicians to assist clients with addressing numerous chronic conditions.  The client is typically connected to equipment which will record one or more channels of physiological data.  Body measures included in the feedback typically are temperature, heart rate variability, galvanic skin response (sweat on our skin), electromyography (muscle innervation) and electroencephalogry (brain wave activity).   The clinician will use specialized computer hardware and software to teach the client through guided feedback to change how their body functions. The client learns that they have more control over their physiology than they may have otherwise realized. 

Some examples include:

• The person with migraine headaches learns that the cause of their pain is not necessarily an issue with their brain but is the result of the skin on the scalp being pulled by muscle tightness in their jaw.  
• Women challenged with incontinence after childbirth are taught to strengthen their pelvic floor muscles.  
• Individuals with chronically cold extremities learn to increase circulation and improve generalized body temperature.  
• People suffering from insomnia learn how to reverse the debilitating effects of chronic conditions such as anxiety, pain and depression.

Anyone can benefit from the use of biofeedback to get a better understanding of how their body functions.  If you would like to learn more about biofeedback contact Geoff Sittler at 971.678.6793 or geoff@oregonmindbody.com. 

​You may also be interested in participating in one of the upcoming group series on integrative Mind, Body, Vitality: Yoga and Biofeedback.