Biofeedback in pain therapy

Definition of pain

The International Association for tzhe Study of pain (IASP) defines pain as an unpleasant sensual and emotional experience, which is linked to an actual or potential tissue damage. In general, there are two types of pain: Chronical and acute pain. If pain is felt for a certain, measurable period of time - between seconds and weeks - and can be directly linked to a certain cause, the term "acute" is used. On the contrary, "chronical pain" describes a longlasting sensation, which cannot be linked to a certain cause and persists even after an illness or injury has healed.¹

Back pain

Back pain often originated from muscular tension, caused by malpositions or structural damage like a herniated disc. Patients can use Biofeedback training in order to reduce the tension.

Tension headache/migraine

Tension headaches - alongside with muscular tension of neck, shoulder and facial muscles - are often a secondary symptom of mental stress or stressfull situation. During a biofeedback training session, the action potential of those muscels is recorded. On basis of this data, patients can willingly take influence on the muscular habitus and reduce the tension.

Sources

^{Aus „Chronischer Schmerz – eine Gegenstandsbehandlung“, B. Kröner H.-D. Basler et al. (eds.), Psychologische Schmerztherapie© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1996}