biofeedback
Meaning of biofeedback: Biofeedback trains awareness of involuntary body functions using real time sensor data, applied alongside other care for conditions such as headache and chronic pain.
Definition of biofeedback
Biofeedback is a technique in which a person learns to influence certain body functions that are normally involuntary, such as heart rate, muscle tension, skin temperature, or blood pressure, with the help of sensors connected to a monitoring device. The device displays real time information about the chosen body function, allowing the person to observe the effect of different mental or physical strategies as they practice.
Over repeated sessions, a person can often learn to recognize and influence patterns that were not previously noticeable without the feedback provided by the equipment, gradually gaining more voluntary control over the targeted function.
Biofeedback is used alongside other care for a range of conditions, including tension headache, chronic pain, and anxiety, generally as a complementary technique practiced together with other medical or psychological treatment rather than as a stand alone replacement for it.
Used in a sentence
The patient was referred for biofeedback training as part of a broader approach to chronic headache management.
Good to know
Biofeedback is typically used as a complementary technique alongside other medical or psychological treatment for a condition rather than as a replacement for that treatment.