Professional Athletes Use Neurofeedback as Brain Performance Optimization Tool
An increasing amount of athletes are learning the positive impact that therapies aimed towards improving brain function can have on not just their athletic performance, but their overall life. One of these brain therapies is called neurofeedback. Neurofeedback is a non-drug, non-surgical approach to improving brain function. It has been researched for decades in a number of top universities around the world in regards to improving concentration, focus, memory, and helping with conditions such as but not limited to concussions, depression, anxiety, attention problems, hyperactivity, and sleep disorders.
A more recent user and fan of neurofeedback is NFL Quarterback Josh McCown. Josh started skeptical about neurofeedback and its possible benefits, but gave it a chance in hopes to create the best version of himself possible to extend his professional football career. After treatment with neurofeedback. Josh claims he feels better than ever at age 38, and the statistics back up his statement as he has set career numbers on the field late in his career. Josh credits neurofeedback for giving him an extra edge which allowed him to perform in ways he does not believe possible without the neurofeedback training.
Interestingly, one thing Josh feels like neurofeedback helped a lot with was his mental focus and negative thoughts. Josh says, “I carried a lot of negativity after game losses, and coaching changes, and the weight of these situations impacted me. I believe it had a negative effect on me where I allowed one negative thing to carry over to the next and made things bigger than they had to be and I got caught in a hard cycle to break.” Josh feels like neurofeedback gave him better control over his life and emotions and a better perspective on how to deal with difficult situations. He also feels like he has a better ability to concentrate and accurately predict situations during games.
Neurofeedback is a safe, non-painful treatment that allows a clinician to read the electrical activity of someone’s brain and compare it against a large database of “normal” brains. Based on this comparison, a number of different “brain trainings” can be done in order to normalize brain activity. Each function of the brain is associated with a certain frequency of activity. If the brain is stuck in a pattern of activity, completely out of their control, a person may be stuck in a certain mood or cannot get over a certain thought. Neurofeedback helps break these negative patterns of activity to allow the brain to function at a more normal rate and allow more flexibility so a person can better react to their environment and situations they are confronted with daily.
For more information on The Neurologic Wellness Institute and how we utilize neurofeedback therapy, please schedule a consult with one of our patient care coordinators.
