Biofeedback is a complementary and alternative pain therapy. Patients are trained to use their mind to control body functions that are typically involuntary, such as muscle tension and heart rate. It may be used to treat a large number of pain conditions, such as headaches, arthritis, fibromyalgia and lupus. It is also sometimes used to treat disorders such as anxiety, insomnia or depression.

Little is understood about how biofeedback works. Though the therapy appears to be effective for some individuals, other patients are not successful at mastering the techniques or can carry out the treatment but do not find relief.

During biofeedback training, sensors are placed on the body. The patient is given auditory or visual cues, such as “tense muscle,” to indicate body functions. The patient then learns to associate these functions with symptoms (e.g., pain) and learns to control the functions (e.g., relax the muscles) to ease the symptoms. Eventually, the patient learns to do this without help from a therapist.

Biofeedback may decrease side effects and medical costs by reducing patients’ need for medication. It puts patients in control of their own treatment. For most patients, biofeedback therapy is very safe. However, because it may interfere with some medications, it is important to discuss biofeedback thoroughly with a physician, particularly if suffering from certain conditions, such as endocrine disorders.