New York: Biofeedback Therapy for Tension Headaches

A Promising New Approach 

If you live in the New York City area and suffer from tension headaches, you may want to consider biofeedback therapy. Biofeedback therapy is a technique that uses precision instruments to measure physiological processes, such as heart rate or skin temperature, that are normally unconsciously controlled. The information is then “fed back” to the person, who can then learn to consciously control those processes. There are several types of biofeedback using different devices to measure different processes, and biofeedback therapy can be applied to a wide range of health conditions.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that biofeedback therapy can be effective for reducing the frequency and severity of tension headaches, which are a type of headache that often feels like pressure or like one’s head is “in a vice.” They can be episodic, occurring less than 15 days a month, or chronic, occurring 15 or more days out of the month. They are essentially caused by muscle tension around the head and neck, and can result from stress, hunger, sleep deprivation, and eyestrain. Generally, the first line of treatment for a tension headache is an over-the-counter pain reliever, like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or an NSAID like ibuprofen or naproxen, but biofeedback therapy is a promising new alternative for people who struggle with tension headaches. 

What Kind Of Biofeedback Therapy Is Useful for Tension Headaches? 

Electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback therapy has been proven effective for reducing tension headaches. This form of biofeedback therapy uses an instrument called an electromyograph, or EMG, that can detect electrical action potentials from muscles beneath electrodes that are attached to the skin. These electrical potentials reflect muscle tension. Usually an auditory signal, like a particular tone, is used as the feedback. This process can help a person with tension headaches learn to decrease muscle contractions and tension in the relevant muscles of the head and neck to counter headache pain.

EEG (electroencephalographic) neurofeedback is another form of biofeedback therapy that has proven useful in managing tension headaches. Whereas EMG biofeedback addresses tension in the muscles themselves, EEG neurofeedback addresses the neurological component of pain responses. In EEG neurofeedback, electrode sensors are placed on the scalp to measure electrical activity in relevant areas of the brain, which is then “fed back” to the person undergoing the therapy using sounds or images. Neurofeedback practitioners will usually use quantitative EEG (qEEG) “mind mapping” to assess which brain areas should be targeted.  

Does Biofeedback Therapy Have Any Side Effects or Contraindications? 

Neither EMG biofeedback nor EEG neurofeedback has been reported to produce any unwanted side effects. This stands in contrast to many commonly used medications. Pain relievers for tension headaches must be used with care when they are taken frequently or in higher doses. NSAIDs, especially naproxen, can cause stomach discomfort and even stomach bleeding at high doses, and acetaminophen in overly high doses can cause liver problems. Biofeedback therapy also does not interact adversely with medications, and is safe for nearly all individuals, including children and the elderly. 

For those of you in the New York City area, please contact us if you would like more information on biofeedback therapy. Biofeedback therapy is a safe and clinically proven approach to managing tension headaches. EMG biofeedback uses measurements of electrical activity in muscles to assess muscle tension, whereas neurofeedback uses measurements of electrical activity in the brain to assess dysregulation of brainwave frequencies that are often associated with pain in tension headaches. Both approaches have proven useful for many individuals who suffer from tension headaches, either alone or in combination with medication. To learn more about biofeedback therapy and neurofeedback therapy for tension headaches, visit us on the web at [website]. Or, call us today at [phone number] to schedule your consultation.

BIOFEEDBACK THERAPY IN NEW YORK

What is Neurofeedback Therapy Used to Treat?

Neurofeedback therapy is a biofeedback procedure in which brain waves are measured via EEG , and a signal is “fed back” to the brain to regulate brainwaves. It has potential applications for treating a number of disorders that are rooted in the dysregulation of brain processes. Neurofeedback works on brainwave patterns to facilitate self-regulation of this mental activity, which can help alleviate symptoms of certain neurological conditions.

Neurofeedback has been used to treat individuals with disorders including:

·         ADHD and ADD

·         Anxiety and other affective disorders

·         Autism

·         Epilepsy

·         Headaches

·         Insomnia

·         Brain damage from injury, stroke, or other causes

What is Neurofeedback for ADHD?

The most comprehensively researched and tested application of neurofeedback therapy is for the treatment of ADHD symptoms.

The electroencephalographic (EEG) models of ADHD brains have found significant differences in brainwave activity when comparing ADHD individuals to “normal” individuals. This model indicates that people with ADHD many have too much slow “theta” brainwave activity, which is associated with states of relaxation, and not enough “beta” brainwave activity, which is associated with mental focus and concentration. The goal of neurofeedback for ADHD is to increase beta activity. This is achieved by showing the individual their own brainwave activity, and then training them to alter it through some sort of active process – often taking the form of a simple “video game.”

What is Neurofeedback for Anxiety Disorders and Other Affective Disorders?

Unlike ADHD, anxiety and related disorders are distinguished by both an excess of beta activity, and asymmetries in the activity between the left and right frontal lobes. Neurofeedback therapy for anxiety disorders is geared toward increasing relaxed alpha wave and theta wave activity. In studies that have been performed, neurofeedback therapy has successfully treated anxiety symptoms, and has even lead to permanent changes in brainwave activity, thereby reducing the likelihood that future instances of this condition will occur.

Additionally, neurofeedback therapy has also been used for symptoms of other affective disorders such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). More research is needed to effectively demonstrate the benefits of neurofeedback therapy in these contexts, but so far the results have been very positive.

What Else can Neurofeedback Be Used For?

Although there has been less research into other applications of neurofeedback therapy, there are a number of case studies in which it has proven effective in reducing the symptoms of autism. Other case studies have also showed it to be effective in helping to treat migraines, which are highly variable in their response to medications.

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