Implementation of heart rate variability biofeedback for emotional self-regulation during rehabilitation
Clinician and patient looking at the patient’s heart rate variability chart
STARS Education and Research Alliance (SERA) conjoint research fellow, Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist Dr Elizabeth Beadle is investigating the use of heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback as a support tool.
For many patients admitted for specialist rehabilitation, it follows an unexpected event such as a motor vehicle accident, fall, or a stroke. Coping with what is often life-changing health impacts can be a very worrying and stressful time for a patient and may impact their ability to effectively participate in rehabilitation therapy.
STARS Education and Research Alliance (SERA) conjoint research fellow, Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist Dr Elizabeth Beadle is investigating the use of heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback as a support tool.
HRV biofeedback is a therapeutic, evidence-based technique using real-time monitoring to teach self-regulation of the nervous system. It has been found to be effective in treating a number of conditions such as anxiety, depression, trauma, insomnia, pain and cardiovascular disease.
“The project aims to understand how HRV biofeedback can be used as a tool to support patients in a busy hospital rehabilitation setting, and how it might improve patient’s wellbeing and engagement in therapy,” Dr Beadle said.
“Heart rate variability, or HRV, is a measure of how flexibly the heart responds from beat to beat. It reflects how well the nervous system can switch between stress and calm.
“When HRV is low, the body can get stuck in a stress response, affecting mood, concentration, and engagement in rehabilitation.
“So during HRV biofeedback, patients learn to use simple breathing exercises while a sensor tracks their heart rate in real time. They can see exactly what their heart is doing in real time, and how different exercises change it.
“Patients are guided to practice these short exercises, with the goal of helping them feel calmer, more focused, and better able to participate in their rehabilitation.”
If found to be successful, HRV biofeedback could become a practical, low-cost, non-invasive tool for helping rehabilitation patients manage stress, support emotional wellbeing, and enhance participation in therapy.