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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffBiofeedback is a complementary and alternative medicine technique in which you learn to control bodily functions, such as your heart rate, using your mind. With biofeedback, you're connected to electrical sensors that help you measure and receive information (feedback) about your body (bio). The biofeedback sensors teach you how to make subtle changes in your body, such as relaxing certain muscles, to achieve the results you want, such as reducing pain.
In essence, biofeedback gives you the power to use your thoughts to control your body, often to help with a health condition or physical performance. Biofeedback is often used as a relaxation technique.
- About biofeedback. Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. http://www.aapb.org/consumers_biofeedback.html. Accessed Dec. 1, 2009.
- Find a provider. Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. http://www.aapb.org/consumers_find.html. Accessed Dec. 1, 2009.
- Insurance coverage. Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. http://www.aapb.org/consumer_insurance.html. Accessed Dec. 1, 2009.
- Selecting a CAM practitioner. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/decisions/D346.pdf. Accessed Dec. 1, 2009.
- Andrasik F, et al. Biofeedback. In: Waldman SD, et al., eds. Pain Management. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2006.
- Greenhalgh J, et al. The effects of biofeedback for the treatment of essential hypertension: A systematic review. Health Technology Assessment. 2009;13:1.
- Consumer alerts. Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. http://www.aapb.org/alerts.html. Accessed Dec. 1, 2009
- Mann JD, et al. Biofeedback. In: Rakel D, et al. Integrative Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2007.
- Mullally WJ, et al. Efficacy of biofeedback in the treatment of migraine and tension type headaches. Pain Physician. 2009;12:1005.
- What is biofeedback? Biofeedback Certification Institute of America. http://www.bcia.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=8. Accessed Dec. 22, 2009.
- Bauer BA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 22, 2009.
- Anderson CF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 22, 2009.
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