Kathleen Allgood, Occupational Therapist 1

Biofeedback & Self Regulation:

Impact on Function & Performance

Kathleen Allgood, Occupational Therapist

Eugene, Oregon, USA

Biofeedback & Self Regulation

IntroductionRationale, Purpose, Objectives

Biofeedback & Self Regulation OverviewImpact on Performance

Varieties of Relaxation Techniques & StrategiesPhysiology

Biofeedback Program

Discussion

Biofeedback & Self Regulation:

Rationale:

Self-care practice that helps buffer daily stress

Helps us to be less vulnerable to stress both

emotionally and physically

Reduce stress and build resilience through a

variety of mind body principles and

interventions

Stress can lead to anxiety, depression, and to

exacerbation of physical symptoms or illness

More self care leads a reduction of physical symptoms and an enhancement of the quality of life and learning

Purposes

Understand the link between stress and

physical emotional challenge

Reduce physiological stressors and

symptoms

Facilitate positive experiences and

opportunities for students

Enhance learning experiences and life skills

Objectives:

Appreciate the role of positive thoughts & beliefs

Learn to reduce stress through new behaviors and attitudes

Develop awareness & skills in a variety of techniques that elicit the relaxation response

Successfully incorporate mind body principles

and practices into health & learning

Biofeedback & Relaxation: Self Management ToolSelf Management/Self RegulationSelf Management/Self RegulationSelf Management/Self RegulationSelf Management/Self RegulationLearning through their bodies Learning through their bodies Learning through their bodies Learning through their bodies are how children initially learn...powerful tool for all of us.“Is the cessation of the vibrations of the mind.”Calming the nervous system through breath awareness and breath awareness and breath awareness and breath awareness and breathing techniques.breathing techniques.breathing techniques.breathing techniques.Impulse control Impulse control Impulse control Impulse control is a key child development stage impulse disorders go hand-in-hand with ADHD, ASD, anxiety, PTSD, substance use, bipolar spectrum disorders and other issuesDevelopment of the ability to selfselfselfself----regulate regulate regulate regulate requires work through the body with the mindbody with the mindbody with the mindbody with the mind...

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Interventions & Resources

Alert Program

Sensory diet/breaks-scheduled or as needed

Relaxation Techniques

Biofeedback

Deep breathing-incorporated into routine-

Transitions, proactively, as needed

Yoga

Etc.

Complementary & Alternative

The Mind Body Connection: Herbert Benson, MD, Julie Corliss, and Geoffrey Cowley Newsweek, September 27, 2004

The inseparable connection between the mind and the body - the complicated interactions that take place among thoughts, the body, and the outside world.

Mind/body medicine integrates modern scientific medicine, psychology, nutrition, exercise physiology

and belief to enhance the natural healing capacities of body and mind.

The end result is self-care, a complement to the

conventional medical paths of surgery and pharmaceuticals.

Although mind/body medicine is also commonly

referred to as complementary or integrative medicine, it should never be described as alternative

medicine.

Mind/body interventions are scientifically proven,

and have the same foundation in traditional medicine

as surgery and pharmaceuticals. Alternative

medicine, conversely, does not have scientific

validation.

Complementary & AlternativeImpact on performance

Challenges

Stress affects everyone, young and old

The stress response in the body can result from both

negative and positive stress.

Child's stress response is the result of change-can

create a physical and/or emotional response that can

scare, annoy, frustrate, excite or upset a child.

Impact on performance

Sometimes positive stress can motivate a child to

do better by giving them an extra push to complete

something or try harder.

Negative stress can get in the way of everyday functioning and sometimes children need help to

understand and deal with how they are feeling.

Depending on the age of the child, their responses can be difficult to recognize as stress.

Symptoms of Stress in Children’s Performance

In stressful situations, it is often not easy for children to express to an adult what is happening to them…

Some symptoms to watch for:

Crying outbursts, feeling down, fidgeting, tired, aggressive behavior, short fuse for anger, being unusually irritable, changes in eating habits, being bored...

Irregular, shallow or rapid breathing. Cold hands and feet.

Racing heartbeat. Tension without relaxation.

Muscle tension in face, neck. Having trouble focusing.

Problems with sleeping- going to sleep, staying asleep, waking up; too much or too little...

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There is a new product available called Kiddie QRA new stress management system for children.

- Developed by Elizabeth Stroebel. - Internationally recognized for her innovative work in stress

management and biofeedback with children and adolescents.

Children learn to have a feeling of emotional and physical control using the KQR exercises as they learn to control their uncomfortable physical reactions to stress:

Irregular, shallow or rapid breathing Racing heartbeatMuscle tension in face, neck Cold hands and feetTension without relaxation Problems with sleepingHaving trouble focusing

Symptoms of Stress in Children’s Performance

Student Stress video

Relaxing My Body, Calming My Mind

The Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine

Harvard Medical School

Massachusettes General Hospital –

1997 VHS video

Experiential Activity

Resting heart rate: Measure heart rate

1 minute of activity: Measure heart rate

Relaxation activity: Measure heart rate

Differences?

Physiology of Stress

The body's stimulating nerves extend from the brain stem out the middle of the spine to many parts of the body:

Cause mind to become restless

by increasing your brain activity

Cause body & mind to feel nervous

by increasing your heart rate and blood pressure

Cause body to be tense

by increasing the rate of breathing and making your breathing

shallower

Physiology of Relaxation Response

The body's pacifying nerves extend from the brain stem out the top & bottom of the spine to many parts of the body.

The pacifying nerves reverse the effects of the stimulating nerves:

Calm your mind

Relax your body by lowering your heart rate and blood pressure

Ease tension by allowing your breathing to become slower and deeper and more relaxed

Relaxation Techniques

Deep breathing- many variations

Triangle breathing (“three sides”)

Inhale for 3 SLOW seconds

HOLD IT for 3 SLOW seconds

Exhale completely for 3 SLOW seconds.

Repeat 3 times.

During the inhale, say to yourself, "I am...", and on the exhale, "relaxed..." (relaxing music may be playing [60-80 bps] quietly in the background).

Kathleen Allgood, Occupational Therapist 4

Relaxation techniques

Varieties of intervention- some examples

Progressive relaxation- purposefully creates tension beginning from one end of our bodies to the other; recognize what tense

and relaxed feels like

Hypnosis The Wiggly Scarecrow, by Coles Whalen, “Breathing”

Guided imagery- reconnect with our inner guide/voice

– Find sources of stress and remind us of the safety and security

– Getting into a relaxed state guided by a verbal exercise (speaking slowly and softly)

– After the imagery, there is a sense of peace... may have new

thoughts about something that’s been troubling

Data collection

State of individual status pre & post activity

Relaxation Techniques

Externalizing- especially useful for people with chronic body pains: back, neck, foot, headaches, etc.

Same kind of exercise as guided imagery, but with a different focus:

Get into a relaxed state

Guided through a verbal exercise (speaking slowly and softly)

Verbal exercise focuses on developing a defined picture of your pain (in your back, neck, etc), LOOKS LIKE...

Focus on the pain, determine it’s size, shape, color, etc.

Picture and sense of the pain’s size, shape, activity

Develop a way (during the imagery) to dissolve it, or remove it from your body.

Relaxation Techniques

Biofeedback-interactive, neurological, physical & emotional activity

Becoming aware of stress, anxiety or anger from symptoms elicited by physiochemistry (adrenaline)

Stimulated by thoughts and feelings (maladaptive reactions or adaptive responses)

Fight or flight response: Feeling hot/cold, sweaty, flush,

increase in heart rate, nervousness, fear, anxiety, inattention or noticeable fidgeting, etc.

Breath control can elicit calming responses:slows heart rate, which STOPS the release of stressful natural stimulants

Relaxation Response...

The relaxation response is a physical state (deep rest that

changes the physical and emotional responses to stress)

When eliciting the relaxation response:

Metabolism and muscle tension decreases

Heart beats slower and your muscles relax

Breathing becomes slower

Blood pressure decreases

Levels of nitric oxide are increased-

If practiced regularly, lasting effects...

Biofeedback Demonstration

Healing Rhythms demonstration…

Biofeedback Training Program for a happy mind &

healthy body:

Happiness is not an acquisition. It's a skill

Barbara DeAngelis, PhD, 1994

http://www.wilddivine.com

Healing Rhythms*

Meditation, slow and easy abdominal breathing, and connecting with positive emotions are three methods for

getting the desired pattern of both strength and balance.

Healing Rhythms guided meditations lead you step by

step, clearly showing your progress (data collection available)

Meditating is associated with balance & relaxation

Synchronizing heart rate with the breath results in easily

reaching these goals: peace of mind, well-being, and health

Meditation helps us reach a state of balance

Software program monitors vital signs

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Resources

www.wilddivine.com (Healing Rhythms software & IOM monitor-2006)

http://www.allaboutcounseling.comrelaxation_techniques.htm#relax

http://www.k-state.edu/counseling/student/biofeedback.htm

http://www.lifematters.com/articles/stressinchildren.asp

http://www.mindtools.com/stress/RelaxationTechniques/StressIntro.htm

https:/www.mindtools.comcgibinsgx2shop.cgipage=RelaxationMP3s.htm

http://www.mbmi.org/basics/default.asp (Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Harvard)

http://www.stressfreekids.com

Kathleen Allgood, OT/L; Eugene School District; allgood@4j.lane.edu

Discussion & Conclusion

Thank you for the opportunity to share a few moments with you about a variety of relaxation

and stress reduction strategies and

techniques to provide awareness and skill development for children. As we implement

these interventions, we can also benefit from

these experiences in our own lives~