Introductions

Dr. Sarah Holloway

Biofeedback VS Neurofeedback: What's the Difference?

Biofeedback Explained

Biofeedback is a treatment that uses a device to help the body measure what it's doing and then feeds that information back to the body. Quite often it involves using some sort of electronic device with wires or leads that are placed somewhere on the body. That reading is some sort of physiological information that the body is giving off, and then feeding that information back to the body. Sometimes it's active or passive, meaning that the patient has a role to play or something that they need to do, and sometimes the device is just communicating with the body while the patient is sitting there calmly. The primary difference between neurofeedback biofeedback is that when the device is placed on the head, it is called neurofeedback, and anything that happens below the head, the rest of the body, is biofeedback. That's the most essential difference between the two.

In neurofeedback, there are a lot of different types. Some of them have all sorts of leads coming out of a cap and many different wires on the head—that's not the type we use at Revive. We use a type that involves one or two wires only, simultaneously on the head, and perhaps some ear clips at the end. There are no more than a few wires coming off of the head while it's reading brainwave activity, then feeding that information back to the brain in order to help the brain make balanced and positive changes. The essential difference there is that neurofeedback is going to have, the focus is going to be on the head, biofeedback is basically anywhere other than the head—we would put the leads somewhere on the body, such as the abdomen, the chest an arm or a leg, wherever it's indicated for the treatment.

What are the Uses of Biofeedback?

A common use for biofeedback is pain or dysfunction in the body. It's wonderful for helping to reset stuck pain patterns or chronic pain. It's wonderful to help speed up healing. It can also be used over the heart center for somebody who's experiencing anxiety or tension.

Leads can also be placed on the abdomen for digestive issues: constipation, gas, and bloating in the gut. It can also just be placed on the shoulders for general tension—anywhere that there is muscle tension, trigger points, etc… Different places where we can put the leads are on ankles, any joint really that's painful, any muscle that is painful—it's wonderful for that. Quite often, even though we might be treating pain, some patients experience a decrease in their stress and anxiety. Even if we're treating, say the knee, for example.

Passive or Active Treatments?

Here at Revive, we used systems of neurofeedback and biofeedback that are considered passive, meaning that the patient does not need to do anything while they're receiving the treatment. Traditionally, a lot of neurofeedback devices require that the patient pay attention to a screen or some sort of monitor. They are the ones looking at the feedback that they're getting from the device, and then actively helping to make changes. Whereas with the devices that we used here, there's no expected work on the part of the patient. They can just sit back and relax while we're helping the body to make those adjustments internally and on its own.

So why do we choose a passive versus an active approach to biofeedback and neurofeedback at Revive?

The short answer is that it allows the body to heal itself. Going more in-depth into that: I don't profess to know what a patient's body truly needs, and I believe in the natural healing ability that all of our bodies have. I also believe that our bodies are infinitely wiser than I can ever be and that the body really knows what it needs—sometimes it needs just a little bit of nudge or adjustment in moving in that direction.

So we have adopted a passive approach because it falls in line with our philosophy as Naturopathic Doctors: the body is wise and knows how to heal itself with just a little help and nudge in the right direction. The passive approach accomplishes just that, and it's really quite wonderful because the device isn't the thing healing the patient, it's the patient's own body that does the healing.

How Long are Treatments?

The duration of the treatment for both the biofeedback and neurofeedback treatments that we do in this clinic are quite short. Generally, they're just seconds long, perhaps to minutes, but usually less than a minute.

Thanks for reading this quick article about biofeedback and neurofeedback and their various uses at our clinic. If there are any questions that I didn't answer, please, don't hesitate to call our clinic and schedule a free phone call consult with me, and I'd be happy to answer any questions that you still have.