Fibromyalgia is a clinical syndrome characterized by generalized pain, multiple defined tender points, fatigue and non-restorative sleep. The exact nature of its cause remains elusive. There are intriguing clues however.
A recent study of autonomic cardiovascular regulation in Fibromyalgia (Aberrances in Autonomic Cardiovascular Regulation in Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Their Relevance for Clinical Pain Reports-Psychosomatic Medicine 2010 May 13) found abnormalities in Heart Rate Variability and Baro-reflex function.
Specifically there was low power in all HRV bands suggesting reduced Sympathetic and Parasympathetic influence of cardiovascular regulation. In other words, the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) appears to be "turned down" in Fibromyalgia. And when stressed with an Arithmetic task it didn't "turn on" as much as expected. No wonder it's so hard for patients with Fibromyalgia to "rise to the occasion" and meet the challenges of life, one of the core regulatory systems in the body isn't working well.
Another interesting fact was that there was evidence of reduced baro-receptor sensitivity and function (pressure sensitive receptor which is critical in the regulation of blood pressure and several other functions.. When the baro-receptor is functioning normally it inhibits pain signals traveling from the body up to the brain.) As expected, in Fibromyalgia patients with decreased baro-receptor function, there was a correlation with increased pain, reflecting a loss of the normal pain dampening effect of intact baro-receptor function.
This raises an exciting possibility for clinical intervention. Given that practice with HRV Biofeedback can increase baro-receptor sensitivity (a primary mechanism in treatment of high blood pressure with HRV) perhaps it can reduce pain through this powerful central mechanism. (This same mechanism may help to explain why exercise is helpful in Fibromyalgia since exercise also improves baro receptor function.) I'll try HRV with some of my patients with Fibromyalgia and describe the results in a future post.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
#2 Why is breathing at the Resonant Frequency Important?
Deep breathing can increase parasympathetic tone helping you to relax, slow down heart rate etc. It's a useful clinical tool which explains why it is a component of virtually every ancient healing tradition-it has withstood the test of time.
But if deep breathing is a flashlight, then Resonant Frequency Breathing (achieved using HRV Biofeedback) is a laser. Much more powerful. Why? Coherence.
What makes a laser powerful is the coherence or synchronization of the light waves. When light waves are made coherent, new properties emerge e.g. being able to cut through metal. Similarly when breathing at the resonant frequency the cardiovascular system is in sync, and acts to synchronize other systems in the body-what the folks at Heartmath call "Psycho-physiological Coherence".
The effects of psycho-physiological or Mind-Body Coherence achieved via Resonant Frequency breathing include improvements in a wide variety of disorders including Irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, Raynaud's syndrome, anxiety, depression and pain. (HRV is a relatively new technology and there is a need for more research however, in my clinical practice with HRV since 2005 I have seen clear improvements in all of these conditions).
In short, while deep breathing tends to induce a state of relaxation, Resonant Frequency Breathing with HRV tends to induce a state of Balance. Very different. More on that later.
In the next post we'll look at the emerging clinical science of HRV and how it might be applied to Fibromyalgia.
But if deep breathing is a flashlight, then Resonant Frequency Breathing (achieved using HRV Biofeedback) is a laser. Much more powerful. Why? Coherence.
What makes a laser powerful is the coherence or synchronization of the light waves. When light waves are made coherent, new properties emerge e.g. being able to cut through metal. Similarly when breathing at the resonant frequency the cardiovascular system is in sync, and acts to synchronize other systems in the body-what the folks at Heartmath call "Psycho-physiological Coherence".
The effects of psycho-physiological or Mind-Body Coherence achieved via Resonant Frequency breathing include improvements in a wide variety of disorders including Irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, Raynaud's syndrome, anxiety, depression and pain. (HRV is a relatively new technology and there is a need for more research however, in my clinical practice with HRV since 2005 I have seen clear improvements in all of these conditions).
In short, while deep breathing tends to induce a state of relaxation, Resonant Frequency Breathing with HRV tends to induce a state of Balance. Very different. More on that later.
In the next post we'll look at the emerging clinical science of HRV and how it might be applied to Fibromyalgia.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
#1 What is the "Resonant Frequency"? (of the Cardiovascular System)
Resonant Frequency is a concept from physics which describes a property of systems that cycle. For example pushing a child on a swing (simple pendulum).
Each swing has a characteristic resonant or natural frequency. When energy (in the form of a push) is added at the resonant frequency, there will be a large change in the amplitude of the cycle i.e. the swing will go much higher. If the push is a little slower, or a little faster than the resonant frequency the swing will not go as high.
In the context of Heart Rate Variability feedback, the resonant frequency is the rate of breathing that results in the largest swing in heart rate. In humans the resonant frequency depends on the individual, and usually lies between four and seven breaths per minute.
It is possible to approximate the resonant frequency in a person simply by having him breathe for a period of time at a given rate, say 5 breaths per minute, then increasing the rate to 5.5 breathes per minute etc. The breathing rate that creates the greatest variation or "swing" in the heart rate is the resonant frequency for that person.
Each swing has a characteristic resonant or natural frequency. When energy (in the form of a push) is added at the resonant frequency, there will be a large change in the amplitude of the cycle i.e. the swing will go much higher. If the push is a little slower, or a little faster than the resonant frequency the swing will not go as high.
In the context of Heart Rate Variability feedback, the resonant frequency is the rate of breathing that results in the largest swing in heart rate. In humans the resonant frequency depends on the individual, and usually lies between four and seven breaths per minute.
It is possible to approximate the resonant frequency in a person simply by having him breathe for a period of time at a given rate, say 5 breaths per minute, then increasing the rate to 5.5 breathes per minute etc. The breathing rate that creates the greatest variation or "swing" in the heart rate is the resonant frequency for that person.
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