Kinesiology 2276F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Thermometer, Biofeedback, Sweat Gland
Document Summary
The use of sophisticated equipment to note psych-physiological responses through visual or auditory feedback. Innate potential to influence automatic, involuntary functions of the body with the mind: e. g. Hr, respiration rate, skin conductance, temperature, muscle tension. Designed to enable you to use your thoughts to control your body. Biofeedback is considered a type of complementary and alternative medicine. Biofeedback can be used to help manage many physical and mental health issues: e. g. anxiety/stress, asthma, backaches, phobias, high bp, headaches, stuttering, chemotherapy side effects. Pros: non-invasive, may enhance performance, helps people take charge of their health, may be an option when other treatments have not worked well. Controlling physiological responses such as hr and bp can help reduce the load that exercise places on the body allowing a person to exercise at higher intensities or for a longer duration at a decreased metabolic cost. Using instruments to acquire feedback about our physiological responses to exercise may help motivate subsequent behaviour.