Electromyographic Biofeedback

What is Electromyographic Biofeedback?

Stress is a hallmark of our modern lives. We feel stress from work, from school, from social gatherings, from our children and spouses – and the stress we feel only sets up even more stress. For many people, it can feel like there is a constant contest being waged between their will and their stress levels, and it is only a matter of time before something has to give.

When we finally do buckle under the pressure – and almost all of us do at some point – stress can lead to long-term disorders such as anxiety, hypertension and chronic pain, especially if it isn't caught and treated early on. The reason this happens is often due to the involuntary movements of our nervous system – our blood pressure, our muscle tension and more.

Luckily, electromyographic biofeedback is a technology-driven alternative medicine therapy that is helping countless patients with a host of stress-related afflictions, including the above mentioned, as well as headaches, back pain and even incontinence. The technology is not new – scientists have been using it for over 130 years – but this particular therapeutic method just sprung up in the last few years.

Here is how it works: electromyographic biofeedback collects information about your physiological responses to stress (or other disorders) from your skeletal muscles, and displays it back to you in a format that is easy to read and understand. Then, usually with a game of some kind, the device teaches you different strategies you can use to respond to muscle tension. Essentially, the device trains you to train yourself, so that you are the one wielding power over your body – not the other way around.

There are many kinds of electromyographic biofeedback devices. The most complicated are usually found in therapeutic and clinical settings, and are administered with the help of a doctor or other healthcare professional who can help you get the most out of it. But there are also smaller, less powerful (but still helpful) devices that you can purchase and use as part of a daily regimen to help you train your body to overcome your unconscious muscular reactions to the stress and anxiety of modern life.

The uses of electromyographic biofeedback aren't limited to just stress and stress-related conditions. They also help those suffering from chronic migraines, and assist with psychological therapies such as mindfulness meditation. There are even athletes who have been experimenting with electromyographic biofeedback therapies to help them achieve new heights of physical fitness.

If you are suffering from an overabundance of stress and you feel it is negatively affecting the quality of your life, consider looking into electromyographic biofeedback treatments. It is a perfectly safe, non-invasive, drug-free therapy that has already helped countless patients get the relief they deserve.

Electromyographic Biofeedback