Can that mind-over-matter thing really provide back pain relief? Well, it appears well-known medical establishments like the Mayo Clinic think so. That is, they have listed biofeedback as a viable technique in such cases. In general, this technique involves the use of devices, which are attached to your body via electronic sensors (i.e., with wires and patches). These devices then provide information generated from your body movements. If, for example, at the moment of back pain the device displayed information regarding tension around a certain muscle group, then you would use that info and try to focus on relaxing that area.
Biofeedback is like a tool to help channel your thoughts to manipulate your body in achieving a desired effect, such as back pain relief. Check out this article from the site Refinery29.com which details the use of biofeedback in treating back pain.
The Surprising New Way To Treat Back Pain
If you’re dealing with back pain — whether you spend hours sitting every day or are still nursing that weird high school injury — you know it can be a tricky thing to treat. But, new research may have found a surprisingly effective (and drug-free) way to ease the pain.
The idea came from a study recently published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders in which participants wore a set of wireless, motion-sensing patches on their backs for 10 weeks. They all had to wear them for four to 10 hours at a time, six to eight times total. Everyone’s lower back pain was assessed before and after the 10 weeks, and they all received consultations along the way.”
In a nutshell, the study, which was mentioned in the Refinery29.com article, concluded that the group that received biofeedback had made “significant improvements in managing their back pain”, even a year after the 10-week study was completed. That implies that the group not only applied that info provided by biofeedback to relieve their back pain, but that it stuck with them for the long-term. The article did not mention any usage of medications during the study, so I presume no meds were involved, which is another benefit of biofeedback.
The use of biofeedback to relieve back pain appears to be based on the idea of muscle imbalances. That is, you use the info provided by biofeedback, and focus on finding the right balance of tension in your muscles to help ease the pain. It’s a promising treatment option, however, the article stated that it’s still new and needs further studies to substantiate its results. Although biofeedback treatments for back pain may not materialize any time soon, it is possible to get relief from back pain caused by muscle imbalances. Muscle Balance Therapy, which focuses on assessment and exercises to bring your body more in balance, may help eliminate the cause of your back pain.
