Biofeedback is the monitoring and altering of involuntary body functions to improve health. Healthcare professionals can be trained to use biofeedback monitors to treat stress-related illnesses, chronic pain, and other disorders. Biofeedback machines range from simple thermometers to complex brain wave monitors. Certification courses are available for professionals, and personal training is available for individuals. Relaxation techniques are essential for successful biofeedback therapy.
Biofeedback is the practice of monitoring and altering involuntary body functions such as skin temperature, heart rate, breathing, muscle tension and brain waves to improve health. Biofeedback training teaches healthcare professionals and others how to use biofeedback monitors to achieve the best therapeutic results. Training can be delivered through seminars, books, online resources and in a live environment. These trained professionals can, in turn, teach patients how to use biofeedback to improve their health.
The most common illnesses that can be treated with biofeedback are those caused by stress. These include high blood pressure, tension or migraines, and chronic pain. Biofeedback training can also include information on how to treat other disorders, including depression, anxiety, autism, epilepsy, and many other illnesses.
Biofeedback machines can be as simple as a thermometer to measure a person’s temperature and as complex as a machine that monitors brain waves. Biofeedback training typically includes information on how to read information from these types of displays. The next step is to learn to control involuntary body functions using different relaxation techniques.
Health professionals who may be interested in using biofeedback include doctors, nurses, psychologists, physical therapists and psychiatrists. Professionals who want to practice biofeedback therapy can become certified in this field. Course requirements often include a variety of topics, including general anatomy and physiology, biofeedback basics, and ethics.
An essential part of basic training is the ability to teach patients relaxation techniques. Only the patient can affect his own bodily functions. Without the patient’s full participation, biofeedback therapy will not be successful.
Training providers often include colleges, universities, and organizations created specifically to provide biofeedback certification, such as the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA) and the Foundation for Research and Training in Behavioral Medicine. Professionals can visit the websites of these organizations to find course listings and locations. Some training is also provided online.
Once the core course is completed, practitioners will periodically need to take additional ongoing biofeedback training to remain certified. Professionals certified in biofeedback can also move on to other specialized certifications. These special areas include EEG (brain wave) biofeedback and pelvic muscle dysfunction feedback.
Groups that endorse biofeedback training courses include the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) and the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR). These approvals can help practitioners choose the best biofeedback training available. Generally, these courses are for healthcare professionals only.
Individuals who want to learn how to improve their own health without professional assistance can also receive biofeedback training. Such training usually focuses on how to measure and change one’s bodily functions through relaxation. Individuals who are not healthcare professionals generally cannot be certified to provide biofeedback therapy to others.
This personal training is available in books, seminars, computer software and consumer websites. Personal biofeedback equipment is widely available for sale on the Internet. These machines may include heart rate, skin temperature, and blood pressure monitors.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
