Biofeedback can be a drug-free alternative to menopause treatment, by enabling us to learn to consciously control our body’s involuntary processes with the help of modern biofeedback devices. In the long term, the point of biofeedback therapies is that involuntary, unconscious physiological processes of the body, such as regulating blood pressure or muscle function, can be learned by the patient.
What is biofeedback?
Biofeedback is a method of biological feedback based on the fact that we receive feedback on the physiological reactions of the body – with the help of a biofeedback device – and we can learn about the functioning and involuntary reactions of our body, thus taking the conscious control of our body into our own hands during biofeedback therapy.
The biofeedback devices used in biofeedback therapy (e.g. QUEX S, QUEX ED) can measure heart rate, breathing patterns, brainwave activity, skin sweating, and these provide information about how the body is functioning at any given moment.
The biofeedback device summarises and analyses the results of the measurements, and during therapy helps us to regulate our unconscious reactions so that the body’s functioning is balanced and harmonious again.
Menopause and biofeedback
Biofeedback can act as a natural and essential quality of life therapy for many health conditions. The most common applications of biofeedback are:
- anxiety, stress
- constipation
- heart problems
- asthma
- incontinence
- irritable bowel syndrome
- pain
- performance enhancement
- concentration enhancement
- relaxation
- migraine, muscle pain
- blood pressure problems
- Raynaud’s disease
- menopause
All women go through menopause, or the menopause, sooner or later. This period lasts for several years and is essentially a period of no menstruation, a decrease in the production of ovarian follicle hormone, accompanied by a myriad of unpleasant physical and mental symptoms.
Menopause symptoms can include:
- hot flushes, flushing
- hot flushes, hot flushes, mood swings, depression
- sweating at night
- difficulty sleeping
- frequent urge to urinate
- incontinence
- increased risk of heart disease
- vaginal dryness
- stressful conditions
- decreased sex drive
Biofeedback therapy for menopause also helps to achieve a better sense of well-being and a balanced physical and mental state, but there are also targeted biofeedback therapy methods that are effective for stress or incontinence, for example.
Biofeedback methods and benefits
EEG biofeedback, also known as neurofeedback, is a specialised area of biofeedback. Neurofeedback monitors and analyses brain waves and helps to balance brain wave activity using special software and involving the individual. Performance enhancement, relaxation, concentration improvement, behavioural disorders, hyperactivity can all be therapeutic reasons for EEG biofeedback.
Muscle biofeedback, or EMG biofeedback, for menopausal complaints, especially urinary problems, helps the patient to learn to consciously relax the pelvic muscles, which helps to treat the complaint in a natural way. It can also be effective for bowel problems, IBS or chronic pelvic pain.
With the help of biofeedback, which triggers skin resistance, we can regulate relaxation. Body temperature regulating biofeedback also has a positive effect on relaxation and stress reduction.
By consciously regulating heart rate and heart function, we can combat circulatory diseases, which are more prevalent during menopause.
Breathing biofeedback teaches you the correct breathing technique, which increases the body’s oxygen supply and helps you to deal with stress more effectively in the future.
Biofeedback therapy
Biofeedback therapy can be used for almost anyone, the biofeedback device is operated by an expert biofeedback therapist who will set up a treatment plan after discussing your symptoms and taking measurements. This will include how much biofeedback therapy will be needed and which therapeutic methods.
During biofeedback therapy, the following will happen:
- The therapist will ask questions about your lifestyle, existing complaints, get a complex picture of the situation and possible obstacles to recovery
- Calibrating the biofeedback device, fixing the diodes on the body
- The device performs a symptom inventory while the patient is at rest, the biofeedback machine measures the body’s reactions and condition on more than 15,000 indicators. The machine detects abnormalities.
- Then the biofeedback therapy itself begins. Depending on the symptoms, the machine monitors brain waves, pulse, respiration, skin temperature, muscle tension. The information is fed back and the therapist gives you instructions on how to change your breathing, posture, for example, to take conscious control of your body.
- Lifestyle tips are given: these may include foods to eat or avoid, suggested exercise and so on.
- Practice and determination are key: the biofeedback device will help you to master mindful control, but it takes a lot of practice to make it work in everyday life, after 10-30 biofeedback sessions.