What is Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a non-invasive therapy tool in which a person is connected to sensors and receives real-time objective feedback from the different body systems.
What are the benefits of Biofeedback
The objective real-time feedback provided by the sensors allows us to understand physical processes in the athlete’s body that contribute to effective stress management and focus on problematic areas.
For example, training the nervous system’s stress response will allow for more effective physical functions – lowering muscle tension to assist with flexibility, movement length, and response times; increasing blood flow to improve recovery; practicing soothing breathing patterns; and improving attention and focus to reduce intrusive thoughts and maximize real-time performance. All of these will allow the body to reach its peak function and increase the chances for record-breaking performance.
Additionally, the biofeedback mechanism allows more accurately tailoring the psychological skills learned in the sessions to each individual athlete by identifying which specific stressors out of the many possibilities (failure-aversion, competition anxiety, worries of not meeting expectations, and fear of uncertainty). After the initial identification, biofeedback allows for a better understanding of individual stress response and better selection, learning, and implementation of cognitive skills.
Increased stress can lead to higher energy consumption, making the athlete more fatigued and lethargic, and less focused. It can also lengthen their recovery time and negatively impact their immune system, possibly allowing for illnesses before important events.
Reducing stress increasing the chances of record-breaking performance.
What would Biofeedback therapy involve?
Refreshing
sessions as needed
Implementing
learned skills during practices, games and competitions
Self-practice
Daily
Committing
to weekly diagnosis, learning and training
Improving overall quality-of-life with Biofeedback
In addition to improving athletic performance, biofeedback stress management can improve daily functions impacting all areas of life:
- Relieving sleep problems
- Headaches and migraines
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- High blood pressure
- Anger management
- Attention deficit disorders
- Chronic pain
- Anxiety and stress
- Phobias
- Teeth grinding
- Improving the immune system’s function