Heart rate variability biofeedback could be future treatment of fibromyalgia

Future treatment of fibromyalgia may include heart rate variability biofeedback after an interesting review of the evidence is published in Pain Management Nursing.

Heart rate variability is the specific changes in time between successive heart beats. A low heart rate variability tends to indicate that the body is under stress from exercise or psychological events. Higher heart rate variability (ie greater variability between heart beats) usually means that the body has a strong ability to tolerate stress or is strongly recovering from prior accumulated stress.

Fibromyalgia is associated with a reduced heart rate variability, which reflects decreased emotional adaptability and resistance to stress.

Experts wanted to find out if there is evidence that heart rate variability biofeedback can improve heart rate variability, therefore increasing stress resistance and emotional adaptability and reducing pain.

Biofeedback is a technique people can use to learn to control some of our body’s functions. During biofeedback, we are connected to electrical sensors that help us receive information about our bodies on a wearable device, computer program or mobile device. This feedback helps us make subtle changes giving us the ability to practise new ways to control our bodies.

“Overall, the articles in this review support the claim that heart rate variability biofeedback is related to decreased pain,” the study authors conclude. “Heart rate variability biofeedback is a promising treatment for chronic pain. Larger, randomized controlled studies are needed to thoroughly evaluate the relationship between heart rate variability biofeedback and fibromyalgia pain.”

Click here to read the original research.

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