Biofeedback is using an electronic device to monitor the
automatic functions of the body. Some of these functions include heart rate,
breathing, and blood pressure. This information can then be used to teach the
patient to observe the functions and respond to them accordingly. This is used
to help patients to control some of their automatic bodily functions.
Electrical sensors are used to monitor and receive information about the body.
This makes it possible for patients to use the power of their thoughts to
control the reactions of their body. This can reduce symptoms of conditions
such as anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and even asthma. There is a wide
range of different electro-medical equipment that can produce biofeedback.

Photoplethysmograph

Photoplethysmographs are one kind of electro-medical
biofeedback equipment. They are used when thermistors, or feedback
thermometers, don’t show much variation. Photoplethysmographs are used by
attaching a sensor to either the temple or a finger to determine the amount of
blood flow, which shows changes in blood volume and heart rate. The information
obtained by photoplethysmographs is useful in helping to treat symptoms of
edema, stress, and headaches.

Electrocardiograph

Electrocardiographs are another kind of electro-medical
biofeedback equipment. They are used to calculate the heart’s electrical
activity. These measurements are taken by placing electrodes on wrists, legs,
or torso. The information that is obtained from electrocardiographs are helpful
in treating asthma, depression, heart disease, and fibromyalgia.

Capnograph

Capnographs are a type of electro-medical biofeedback
equipment. They determine the amount of carbon dioxide that is exhaled in a
patient’s breath. This is done by having the patient exhale into a tube.
Capnographs are useful in deciding if a patient is breathing shallow and rapid,
or deep and slow. The information obtained from using a capnograph can be used
to help patients that have been diagnosed with disorders such as anxiety,
stress, panic attacks, and asthma.

Electromyograph

Electromyographs are useful in treating patients that have
been diagnosed with anxiety, headaches, incontinence, low back pain, and other
disorders that relate to muscle contractions. This kind of electro-medical
biofeedback equipment works by the doctor placing electrodes on the specific
muscle that needs to be looked at. The electromyography can then detect muscle
movements and tension before the muscles contract.

Pneumograph

A piece of electro-medical biofeedback equipment that
measures respiration rate is the pneumograph. They provide pertinent
information to the doctor by showing the expansion and contraction of the chest
and abdomen, as well as the respiration rate. This shows the doctor whether the
patient is breathing correctly or not. Pneumographs can be helpful in treating
patients who have been diagnosed with anxiety, stress, hypertension, and
asthma.

Using biofeedback is an excellent way to obtain information
about the body’s automatic functions. There are many different pieces of
electro-medical equipment that can provide this information to doctors. This
information can then be used to assist a person in relieving symptoms of
certain conditions by allowing patients to see and understand the changes their
body goes through. Then patient’s can see what is going wrong in their body and
learn to change it. This will reduce symptoms that they usually experience,
such as slowing the heart rate and breathing properly.