14 Responses to “The Science Behind Biofeedback”

1. Josh Hanagarne says:

   December 29, 2009 at 11:25 am

   You had me at lab coat. But glasses and a beaker would have made it perfectly official.
2. Mike T Nelson says:

   December 29, 2009 at 11:35 am

   Thanks Josh! Hahah, funny you mentioned that as I am working on getting some actually!

   Rock on
   Mike T Nelson
3. Kira Clarke says:

   December 29, 2009 at 7:48 pm

   I’ve been thinking a lot about this … (and started playing with it a little in my training).

   Here’s a question that’s been bothering me …

   You still use a template … and then utilize the biofeedback to determine the exercise choice on any given session …

   If the body is smart enough to determine reps, sets and exercises from a template … Shouldn’t it be smart enough to chose EVERYTHING … which means you could abandon templates all together?

   For example … Let’s just say you break movements down into the standard … quad dominant, hip dominant, horizontal pull, horizontal push, vertical pull, vertical push etc. (I’m just using this breakdown as an example … my point being … break down all the basic movements you train)

   Let’s say a standard trainer might have a two/three day split where each of these movements are covered … and this process ensures no movements are neglected over time.

   Now, if the body is smart … couldn’t you just rock up each strength session … establish a baseline … test each basic movement … take the basic movements that test well … test various exercise options for each movement … whatever exercises test well, train them until they don’t test well …

   If the body is smart … won’t it automatically balance out the training over a given period of time? (eg. maybe pushing movements would test well for a few sessions, then pulling, then leg movements etc. but over time … if the body is smart … wouldn’t it balance out?

   What I’m saying is … it seems to me, that you’re trusting the body that it should or shouldn’t do this or that exercise from a template, that it knows how many sets to do, what weight to use, how many reps to do etc. … but you’re not trusting the body to establish the template …

   I’m not sure if I’m explaining myself very well

   Anyway, I’m gonna explore this for myself.

   Big thanks to you and Adam for sharing your ideas on this topic. I’m still pretty confused, but I enjoy experimenting for myself … I’m sure I’ll get to the bottom of this eventually

   BTW … I’ve noticed that by using the ‘toe touch’ feedback I’ve been able to do a lot more ‘quality’ sets than what I used to ‘limit’ myself to previously.

   Cheers.
4. Mike T Nelson says:

   December 30, 2009 at 9:48 pm

   I think I get your question and the short answer should be YES!

   The catch is that you need to determine your goal. You can scale a ladder fast, but you need to make sure it is pointed against the right wall.

   Also, someone with experience in it can get you to a result faster since their are certain short cuts to try (mobility work, working opposite movements) etc to get it to test better.

   If you want to improve your DL, a key is to get the DL to test well much of the time.

   Hope that helps and let me know how it goes!
   rock on
   Mike T Nelson
5. Dave says:

   December 30, 2009 at 9:57 pm

   Awesome comment, Kira. Can’t wait to see Mike’s response!
6. Mike T Nelson says:

   December 31, 2009 at 6:31 am

   Thanks for the comment Dave.

   Let me know if my response makes any sense

   Rock on
   Mike T Nelson
7. Kira Clarke says:

   January 6, 2010 at 2:51 pm

   Thanks Mike,

   Yep, that answers my question

   Cheers!
8. Mike T Nelson says:

   January 6, 2010 at 5:32 pm

   Thanks buddy! How is the testing going? I am excited to hear your feedback (both good and bad)

   Rock on
   Mike T Nelson
9. Darryl Lardizabal says:

   January 8, 2010 at 7:14 pm

   Hey Mike,

   Testing is awesome. It’s funny how everything I want/feel like practicing does test well almost each and everyday. It’s awesome to know my body is cooperating with me.

   Of course like everyone I have my bad days, but than it tends to be a certain variation that tests through the roof.

   By the way, I second Josh, glasses and beakers…awesome scientificness.
10. Kira Clarke says:

    January 9, 2010 at 5:32 pm

    Hey Mike,

    I’m enjoying using testing in my training so far

    Whilst I have made gains all ready, I’ll reserve my opinion until I’ve got a few months of playing with it under my belt … I’m most interested in how it plays out over time. I can get quick ‘results’ from most training systems just ‘cos they’re different. I guess what I’m saying is I’m most interested in seeing how it deals with ‘plateaus’:)

    BTW I’m looking forward to the DVD you’re making. I’ll definitely get it … All though, depending on price, I might have to save for it

    Cheers!
11. Mike T Nelson says:

    January 10, 2010 at 9:39 am

    Thanks Daryl! Glad the biofeedback testing is going well.

    I am working on the glasses and beakers as we speak.

    Rock on!
    Mike T Nelson
12. Mike T Nelson says:

    January 10, 2010 at 9:51 am

    Thanks for the follow up man! Much appreciated.

    I have personally found that it pretty much eliminated any plateaus. I can make continual progress on almost every session. I still have a less than stellar session from time to time and that happened the other day actually. I had planned to do rack pulls and KB Presses. Rack pulls tested good, but I pushed it a bit too far and then progress stopped (testing did not improve and got worse). KB Presses only tested ok. I ended up doing some push ups, chins and rows instead and called it a day. On the plus side I had a great broomball game a few hours later. I also slept 10.5 hours that night, so that might have had something to do with it too!

    Keep us updated! I don’t have the final price on it since I am not the one producing it, but you will be able to get it here as soon as it is out.
    rock on
    Mike T Nelson
13. Val Byers says:

    April 5, 2010 at 10:21 am

    I don’t understand how you use BIOFEEDBACK.
    According to the definition by the American Association of Biofeedback and Psychophysiology,

    Biofeedback is a process that enables an individual to learn how to change physiological activity for the purposes of improving health and performance. Precise instruments measure physiological activity such as brainwaves, heart function, breathing, muscle activity, and skin temperature. These instruments rapidly and accurately “feed back” information to the user. The presentation of this information — often in conjunction with changes in thinking, emotions, and behavior — supports desired physiological changes. Over time, these changes can endure without continued use of an instrument.

    It implies there is instrumentation involved, not simply measuring changes of performance without them.
    The Biofeedback process uses “operant conditioning” which is defined as is the use of consequences to modify the occurrence and form of behavior.
    I don’t see how your system uses this operant conditioning.
    It appears to use standard measures of performance and muscle gains – certainly not biofeedback processes
14. Mike T Nelson says:

    April 5, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    Thanks for the comment Val.

    In short, we use a range of motion test to determine if that exercise is “good” or “bad”
    That is a simplification, but it works.

    Correct, there are many types of biofeedback to use.

    While the formal definition involves another tool, the tool we use is a range of motion test.

    Heart rate can be taken by hand and does not a heart rate monitor and is still a form of biofeedback.
    While you are correct to do HRV (heart rate variabilty) you will need very precise equipement.

    An “operant conditioning” is used. Poor or decreased ROM (range of motion) willl modify exercise selection.

    Doe that help?
    Rock on
    Mike T Nelson