Biofeedback In Treating Back Pain

Chronic back pain is a result of many factors that include physical, social and psychological aspects of the patient. When treating chronic back pains, a long lasting result is achieved by looking at all aspects that might contribute to the condition. Physical pain can be effectively eliminated by using different form of therapies that are known to bring relief. However, a patient should address any changes associated to personality and mental health.

Biofeedback is a technique used to resolve this aspect of treatment. It addresses the state of the mind in a patient and can be helpful in relaxing and easing muscles. A session of biofeedback employs the use of electrodes and other sensors to the patient’s body. A trained therapist conducts the session where electrodes are attached to devices that monitor activities such as muscular tension, brain wave activity, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure and temperature. Feed back from these activities is relayed by electrodes to monitoring devices.

Therapists use the session to relax and calm your body, reduce muscular tension, and to bring your heart rate and breathing to a relaxed and slow pace.

The patient is trained how to achieve this state on their own. The aim is to teach the patient how to relax the body to better cope with pain associated with the condition.

A review carried out on biofeedback therapy was not conclusive; it gave conflicting results as to how it can be used to effectively treat back pain.