Biofeedback for pelvic floor
Having trouble holding your pee? How about troubles with your bowel movement? Or is it that you’re feeling some pain in your pelvic region?
If you’re tired of taking pills every day to stop the pain or trying every herb and supplement on the market then you may want to consider a new type of treatment. This treatment is biofeedback.
While the treatment isn’t brand new, doing it for a few sessions can help to make you feel brand new. Got your attention now? Great.
Keep reading this to find out how this treatment works, if it is for you and, of course, the risk being taken by undergoing this type of treatment.
But let’s answer your burning question first, “What the heck is biofeedback?”
Biofeedback defined
Biofeedback can be defined as a treatment that combines technology and medicine by using sensors to display the response of the body to varying levels of stimuli. By monitoring the body’s response, a person can then be trained to control involuntary body functions such as breathing, pain perception, blood pressure, heart rate, and in this context, pelvic muscle strength and tension.
Biofeedback is also used to treat conditions such as:
• Digestive disorders (such as constipation )
• Urinary incontinence
• Chronic pain
• High blood pressure
• Cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats)
• Epilepsy
• Attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD)
• Sleep disorders
• Panic and anxiety disorders
• Spinal disorders
How does biofeedback work?
When you really think about it, everything in your body is controlled by your nervous system , even the little things you don’t remember doing. Whenever something “bad” happens in your body, your nervous system is the one in charge of letting you know that something is wrong. The nervous system does that in many different ways that can help you to pinpoint the area in which it is happening for example through pain, discomfort, increase in body temperature or increased heart rate.
Biofeedback can interact with this system by monitoring its behavior, and taking what it has learned to control how the nervous system reacts to this type of thing in the future. This response can be less severe, or entirely positive after going through various mental exercises including trial-error, reward-punishment, and reinforcement through repetition that help to control it.
What happens during biofeedback and how to prepare for it
If you are interested in biofeedback for your pelvic floor , there are some things that you must know and do beforehand to help you achieve the best possible results.
Firstly, you should do as much research on biofeedback as you can. There is no shortage of information available, and you can get a significant amount of information about biofeedback therapy from a single google search. This way, you’ll be more motivated to put time and effort into this treatment to finish therapy and get final results.
But that’s why you’re here, isn’t it? So let’s move right along.
The next step would be to visit your doctor who will advise you on whether this treatment will be beneficial to you. You may also use this opportunity to voice any concerns you may have regarding this treatment or address any confusion. This might even be your chance to reassure yourself about going forward with it.
If you’re wondering where you can find a biofeedback therapist, you can ask your doctor for a referral if one isn’t offered. If it is a case where you can’t decide on your given options, you should be sure to do a bit of additional research to determine their credentials and experience. This will bring you one step closer to finding the right biofeedback therapist for your situation.
Afterward, find out the costs associated with this treatment and discover if your insurance covers this type of treatment. It is by many companies, but be sure to check if you will be reimbursed before going ahead with it. This way you can know what to expect and won’t dig yourself into a hole for the future.
The next step is to book your therapy sessions with the biofeedback therapist of your choice. A typical session will last roughly half an hour to an hour depending on the severity of your condition. The number of sessions you have to attend is also determined this way. Normally, this number is four to six, or eight to ten, which is determined by your biofeedback therapist.
During your session, your biofeedback therapist will connect you to the biofeedback equipment. This equipment contains sensors that detect your body’s response to specific stimuli even when you are unconscious.
As it relates to the pelvic floor, these sensors are placed at the abdomen and anal canal. Next, the electrical activity of the muscles which control your bladder and bowel will be measured. This will help you to pinpoint the exact location of the muscles needed to relieve the stress, i.e the right muscles. You may even be required to experience dietary changes to enhance your chances of getting good results.
Over time, your therapist will review your progress then devise a treatment plan that will enable you to continue your treatment at home on your own.
This can be in the form of a biofeedback device that is FDA- approved for at-home use and self monitoring .
These are somewhat similar to the type used by biofeedback therapists and can be connected to your laptop or PC for review purposes. They are also available online and can even be purchased on Amazon and delivered to your doorstep. When taking this route, research is key as many sellers are known to exaggerate the efficacy of the device and it can end up being a big waste of time or a danger to your health.
For women requiring pelvic floor therapy, your exercises can range from using a fingertip to self monitor the contractions of your pelvic floor to surface electromyography (sEMG). sEMGs display pelvic floor contractions when its electrodes are placed on the perineum either in the vagina or rectum with an internal sEMG sensor that is used to monitor contractions as they happen and help to give them control and precision.
You may also be prescribed pelvic floor exercises using weighted vaginal cones. This provides immediate feedback that is determined by the weight of the cone and slippage.
After this stage, you will have to come in for follow-ups. This can also help you to adjust or change your treatment plan accordingly.
How effective is biofeedback?
Though biofeedback is a treatment, it is more of a type of training than a medicine. This means that it’s efficacy is dependent on your ability to commit to the treatment and going the extra mile.
It is also determined by the severity of your condition. If you have extreme pelvic floor ailments, your improvement may even be too minor to realize.
What are its benefits?
Aside from the obvious benefit of relief from your ailment, biofeedback offers a non-invasive alternative to treatment for pelvic floor issues which will cause no major disruption to your life. So no, it doesn’t hurt.
Biofeedback also has the flexibility of being able to get utilized as a part of a treatment, where it falls short, or to improve the chances of getting great results.
It has the added benefit of teaching patients how to handle any stress that may come their way post-treatment to help them feel more in control of their lives.
Cost
The cost of your treatment is determined by the experience and qualification of your particular biofeedback therapist. Generally, sessions range from as low as $35 to as high as $85 per session and even higher.
Another factor that determines the cost of your biofeedback treatment is the severity of your condition.
Devices can be as cheap as $20 to thousands of dollars for more state-of-the-art models.
Precautions/ safety concerns
Biofeedback is safe under normal conditions. It is conducted by therapists who aren’t necessarily regulated, but who, in many cases, acquire voluntary certification from the Biofeedback Certificate Institute of America (BCIA) as a testament to their qualification anyway.
Who should not use it
Biofeedback may not be suitable for persons with certain skin conditions or heart rhythm problems.
It is always a good idea to consult with your doctor before starting any kind of treatment, whether it is non-invasive or not.
Substitution
Biofeedback therapy can always be substituted with physical medication or surgery. In order words, any treatment that can be used to treat pelvic floor issues can be used instead of biofeedback therapy.
As aforementioned, it all depends on your condition so that decision should be made under the advice of your doctor.
The lesson
Biofeedback can be effective as a treatment for pelvic floor issues. It is safe, relatively affordable and can be used by pretty much anyone.
Before going forward with this type of treatment, have a word with your doctor. He/she is the best source of advice and will let you know if it is a good idea or not.
