Biofeedback: Using your mind to improve your health

Please read: Important 2013 cancer research update from Dr. Michael Camilleri

Free

E-newsletter

Subscribe to Housecall

Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

Sign up now

Why it's done

By Mayo Clinic staff

Biofeedback, sometimes called biofeedback training, is used to help manage many physical and mental health issues, including:

  • Anxiety or stress
  • Asthma
  • Chemotherapy side effects
  • Chronic pain
  • Constipation
  • High blood pressure
  • Incontinence
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Raynaud's disease

Biofeedback appeals to people for a variety of reasons:

  • It's noninvasive.
  • It may reduce or eliminate the need for medications.
  • It may be a treatment alternative for those who can't tolerate medications.
  • It may be an option when medications haven't worked well.
  • It may be an alternative to medications for some conditions during pregnancy.
  • It helps people take charge of their health.
Risks Definition
References
  1. About biofeedback. Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. http://www.aapb.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3441. Accessed Oct. 16, 2012.
  2. Find a practitioner. Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. http://www.aapb.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3442. Accessed Oct. 16, 2012.
  3. Insurance coverage. Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. http://www.aapb.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3338. Accessed Oct. 16, 2012.
  4. Selecting a complementary and alternative medicine practitioner. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/decisions/practitioner.htm. Accessed Oct. 16, 2012.
  5. Waldman SD, et al., eds. Pain Management. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2006.
  6. Greenhalgh J, et al. The effects of biofeedback for the treatment of essential hypertension: A systematic review. Health Technology Assessment. 2009;13:1.
  7. Consumer alerts. Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. http://www.aapb.org/alerts.html. Accessed Oct. 16, 2012.
  8. Rakel D, et al. Integrative Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2007.
  9. Mullally WJ, et al. Efficacy of biofeedback in the treatment of migraine and tension type headaches. Pain Physician. 2009;12:1005.
  10. Overview of biofeedback. Biofeedback Certification Institute of America. http://www.bcia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3524. Accessed Oct. 16, 2012.
  11. Bauer BA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
  12. AskMayoExpert. Biofeedback. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2012.
  13. Herderschee R, et al. Feedback or biofeedback to augment pelvic floor muscle training for urinary incontinence in women (review.) Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://www.thecochranelibrary.com/view/0/index.html. Accessed Oct. 24, 2012.
  14. Palsson OS, et al. Psychological treatments in functional gastrointestinal disorders: A primer for the gastroenterologist. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. In press. Accessed Oct. 24, 2012.
MY01072 Jan. 26, 2013

© 1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

  • Reprints
  • Print

  • Share on:

  • Email

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger