What is Digestive Biofeedback?
Digestive biofeedback is based on self-monitoring. It's a therapy that uses sensors to monitor certain physiological aspects of a patient and, with this information obtained at the same time, teaches them how to manage their body to improve a specific disorder.
According to specialists at the European University , biofeedback is used to treat bruxism, incontinence, phobias, stress, and headaches, among other disorders. It is also used to combat various symptoms related to the digestive system.
In this regard, the Spanish Society of Digestive Pathology (SEPD) indicates that approximately half of patients who seek medical attention for digestive symptoms do not have an organic disease identifiable by conventional diagnostic methods.
These are so-called functional digestive disorders or gut-brain interaction disorders, where there are no visible lesions or inflammation, but rather alterations in the functioning of the digestive system. In these cases, there is poor nervous system control over the digestive tract.
However, a somatic component has also been identified that affects voluntarily controlled muscles such as the perineum, diaphragm, and abdominal muscles , and that influences common symptoms such as constipation, anal incontinence, and abdominal distension.
Their impact on quality of life is considerable because, in addition to physical discomfort , they can produce emotional distress, anxiety and even social isolation.
In recent years, biofeedback techniques have gained prominence, which show patients how their muscles work and teach them how to control them correctly.
These techniques "have proven effective in treating the somatic component of digestive disorders," says Fernando Azpiroz, a member of the Spanish Society of Digestive Pathology (SEPD), principal investigator at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute in Barcelona, and professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Associated disorders
- Anal incontinence is "very common, especially in women who have had multiple births. Incontinence is associated with a change in their quality of life," says Dr. Azpiroz.
- Abdominal bloating. The specialist states that patients with abdominal bloating wake up in the morning with a normal stomach, which gradually distends throughout the day.
- Constipation , in most cases, occurs because the muscles of the perineum do not function properly.
“ Defecation typically consists of abdominal compression combined with anal relaxation. Some patients, when attempting to evacuate, experience inadequate anal relaxation or even a paradoxical contraction, making it difficult for them to evacuate. In these cases, retraining techniques can be used to help the patient resolve the expulsion defect,” says Dr. Azpiroz.
The specialist indicates that digestive tics such as rumination or aerophagia also respond well to re-education techniques .
Rumination involves the involuntary regurgitation of recently ingested food . This food may be chewed and swallowed again or expelled.
Regurgitated food has not been digested, so "people who suffer from this syndrome don't have a bad taste in their mouth or notice heartburn as with vomiting. It's the same taste as food, and they are able to identify it," explains Dr. Elizabeth Barba, a gastroenterology specialist at Barnaclínic+, a center associated with Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.
Aerophagia, on the other hand, consists of excessive intake of air, which occurs, for example, when eating, drinking, or laughing. The air accumulates in the digestive system and causes various symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating, belching, and flatulence.
Bayer Laboratories specialists explain that certain habits can cause aerophagia, such as eating too quickly, talking while eating, chewing gum, using straws, smoking, breathing through the mouth, or drinking too many carbonated beverages.
Additionally, people who snore or suffer from sleep apnea are more prone to aerophagia. Stress and anxiety can also cause aerophagia or make it worse.
All of these disorders could be improved through biofeedback . However, access to this type of treatment is limited because it involves "techniques that require trained personnel and specific equipment," emphasizes Dr. Azpiroz.
However, the doctor explains that non-instrumental biofeedback also exists, which requires no special equipment and can be performed in the office.
"Some of these techniques (for the treatment of anal incontinence and abdominal distension ) have already demonstrated their effectiveness in controlled studies, while others (treatment of expulsive defects, rumination, and aerophagia) are still in the development phase. The value of this methodology lies in its applicability, which will allow it to offload the workload of referral centers," he notes.
Although biofeedback can be successful, treating functional digestive disorders often requires a multifactorial approach.
This includes lifestyle changes, such as following a balanced diet , engaging in regular exercise, or learning stress management techniques, or pharmacological treatment with antispasmodic medications, central nervous system modulators, or probiotics, depending on the symptoms.
Thus, the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders requires a personalized approach tailored to the needs of each patient.
by Purificación León
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Diariolibre
