Practicing Relaxation Using Home Biofeedback Devices

Many relaxation exercises can be practiced anywhere without any assistive devices.

Diaphragmatic breathing is a very effective exercise for relaxation.  Within a few seconds of shifting to a slow-paced breathing pattern there is a change in cardiovascular activity.  A person practicing diaphragmatic breathing may feel a noticeable difference in how they feel.  They might describe feeling more relaxed than before they changed their breathing.  Others, especially those who are new to trying diaphragmatic breathing may not initially notice any change.  This is where a biofeedback device can be helpful.  A biofeedback device measures signals from the body like heart rate, skin temperature, skin conductance (a measure related to changes in the amount of sweat on the skin), breathing, and muscle tension.

A heart rate variability biofeedback device can measure and display the changes in heart rate and heart rate variability activity instantly and moment by moment as a person practices diaphragmatic breathing.  The shifts in heart rate variability activity in a way proves the efficacy of diaphragmatic breathing.  It also helps the person see how their thoughts, positive or negative, also influence changes in their heart activity.  Through diaphragmatic breathing practice with heart rate variability biofeedback devices a person learns that shifting their breathing has a real, measurable effect on their heart activity.  After a while, the person will be able to continue practicing the breathing exercise without the biofeedback device.  They will know how to do the breathing practice properly because of the feedback that they received while using the biofeedback device.  It will become automatic to do it in the same way even when they are not using the biofeedback device.

The biofeedback devices that a professional health care provider like a psychologist, social worker, mental health counselor, or physical therapist uses in their office are medical grade and relatively expensive.  The ones that a person would use at home are very affordable and easy to use for people who are not health care professionals.

Home biofeedback devices can make doing relaxation exercises more interesting and enjoyable for people who just won’t do relaxation exercises otherwise.