Bio is the Greek prefix meaning life, as in the word biological. Feedback is a term for receiving information on current behavior which can be used to influence or modify future behavior. Thus biofeedback is the process in which a patient is given information about specific body events through the use of instrumentation.

Biofeedback began in Germany during the early 1900’s. Although it wasn’t until the 1960’s when Neal Miller, a psychology PhD who worked and studied at Yale University started working and experimenting with this early technology. In short time, others such as Elmer Green, PhD of the Menniger Foundation, successfully applied these techniques to help with migraine headaches and hypertension. In the early days of the field, the term “biofeedback” was coined by Barbara Brown PhD, during the time that Biofeedback Research Society was being formed.

As we have discovered, the relationship first thought to exist between brain waves and mind/body correlation appears to be more promising as further research and time goes by. Organizations such as NASA, the US military and the American Cancer Society all have found the benefits of biofeedback. For some time biofeedback was thought to have less than optimal medical benefits. During the 1990’s research was bringing hard evidence to the medical world. Today over 1,500 biofeedback professionals are practicing across America.

Biofeedback has become an important painless, non-drug therapy used mainstream today. The renowned Mayo Clinic states that using biofeedback can be helpful in treating about 150 medical conditions. The Mayo Clinic also sites that biofeedback is appealing because it can reduce or even eliminate your need for medication, and potentially help conditions that have not responded to medication.

There are many forms of biofeedback. Each form has its specific benefits. VRS is bringing two forms of biofeedback to the “ezRelax System”.

Skin resistance biofeedback
(Galvanic Skin Response)

GSR biofeedback devices work by analyzing the skin. The device measures the electrical resistance of the skin through two electrodes and compares this value to a previously taken baseline reading. This resistance is affected by autonomic responses such as sweat and can therefore be used as a measure of anxiety, stress or general emotional arousal.
GSR is a measure of your bodies stress level, which changes based on your overall mood, emotions and state of mind.

Heart Rate Variability
(Pulse)

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of the beat-to-beat variations in heart rate. It is usually calculated by analyzing a time series of beat-to-beat intervals from the ECG or of beat-to-beat intervals derived from an arterial pressure tracing. HRV measures how your heart responds to emotional, mental and physical stresses, and its ability to bounce back to a relaxed and normal functioning state.

Why GSR (Galvanic Skin Response)?

GSR biofeedback is commonly used in the treatment of stress reduction. Typical biofeedback equipment produces complicated charts and graphs. The ezRelax System has simplified these. We have taken all this “data” and put into one simple number. We call it your personal “stress number”. As you begin your session on the ezRelax, our system will begin to monitor your stress level. The system will then chart to progress through out your session. As you lay back and do absolutely nothing but relax, The ezRelax will begin tracking your stress number. When your session is over, you will receive a print out of your session. You will be able to see how your ezRelax session on helped reduce your stress and bring you to the state of “Absolute Relaxation”.

Why Heart Rate Variability (Pulse)?

The normal resting heart rate in healthy individuals varies dynamically from moment to moment. Heart rate variability is an important indicator of health and fitness. The analysis of HRV is a powerful predictor of future heart disease, and increased risk of sudden death as well as all-cause mortality.
Seeing your HRV provides a visual image of your mind and body in a relaxed state after your ezRelax session.

The ezRelax “Relaxation Report”
Typical biofeedback as used for “Relaxation” requires you to monitor the feedback and then you must mentally train your body to adjust for the stress or anxiety you are experiencing to produce a “relaxation response”.

The “ezRelax” system, not only does the monitoring, but “induces” the “relaxation response” without any conscious effort from the individual. Typical biofeedback training although painless can add to the stress level due to the mental effort that must be exerted. With the “ezRelax”, you can just lay back, relax and let it happen naturally. Your custom “stress” report will show your stress number at the beginning of the session, chart the level throughout the session, with the final results showing how you progressed to state of “absolute relaxation”.
The ezRelax System and biofeedback is a safe and effective way for you to monitor and manage your stress level. We have taken the mystery out of all the charts and terminology, giving a simple way to see and understand how biofeedback can help you!