What is biofeedback?

Biofeedback is a type of body-mind therapy to improve health. This means it’s similar to relaxation methods, hypnosis, and meditation. Biofeedback helps you control some functions your body usually does on its own. You use devices to guide you.

Can biofeedback help people with cancer?

Biofeedback may help reduce how often and how severe these kinds of symptoms happen:

• Headaches

• Anxiety

• Insomnia

• Chronic pain

• Extreme tiredness (fatigue)

It has not been shown to affect cancer cells.

How is biofeedback done?

The process is done with a trained and certified biofeedback technician. During biofeedback, you wear electrodes. Electrodes are sticky pads put on your skin. They have wires attached to them. The wires are connected to devices that measure things like:

• Breathing.

• Sweat.

• Skin temperature.

• Blood pressure.

• Heartbeat.

• Muscle tension.

The devices used include:

• Electromyography device. This measures nerve and muscle function.

• Electrodermal activity device. This measures changes in sweating.

• Finger pulse devices. These can measure blood pressure, oxygen level, and heart rate.

The results are shown on a computer screen. After the devices record these body signals, the technician looks at the results. They may advise certain physical and mental exercises. The exercises teach you how to relax and affect the body functions being measured. They can include:

• Deep breathing.

• Progressive muscle relaxation.

• Guided imagery.

• Meditation.

Trying biofeedback

Biofeedback does not replace the care and treatment you get from your cancer care team. But it can be part of your cancer symptom management plan.

There are no known significant side effects of this therapy. It may be pleasant and helpful. It may improve your quality of life. Talk with your health care provider if you want to try biofeedback.