o gain conscious control over normally unconscious physiological functions (such as skin temperature). In this case, assisted thermal biofeedback means measuring skin temperature at a specific site (such as a finger or the big toe) before relaxation and then again afterward. This before-and-after setup allows the relaxation time to be spent relaxing rather than worrying about a temperature change. A temperature increase recorded at the end of practicing the WarmFeet technique indicates that a more relaxed state has been achieved. Remembering how this relaxed state feels and then aiming for that sensation the next time the technique is practiced strengthens and improves a person’s ability to achieve the desired outcome of skin temperature increase. Keeping a log of temperature changes also reinforces the development of this new skill.
At the University of Wisconsin, research was conducted to test the effectiveness of this biofeedback-assisted relaxation technique. A randomized, controlled, multisite clinical trial was performed on a group of people who had had chronic, nonhealing ulcers on the feet for at least 8 weeks to see if the relaxation therapy would improve the healing process. Half of the study participants had diabetes, and all were under the treatment of a podiatrist. The medical outcomes were highly significant for increased wound healing and increased sensation. Fourteen of 16 participants who practiced the relaxation technique (for 16 minutes 5–7 days a week) completely healed their chronic ulcers within the 12-week study time. Only 7 out of 16 in the control group that didn’t use the technique healed their ulcers. After the study was over, four of the people from the control group who had unhealed ulcers learned the relaxation technique. Although their ulcers were now three months older than those in the first part of the study, with the relaxation technique they all healed within 13 weeks. This study and other research findings have been presented nationally and published in the medical journals Diabetes Care, Diabetes, and Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association.
In clinical applications of the WarmFeet technique, pain relief has been the most common and significant result. For example, one man had such excruciating pain in his feet that he could neither eat nor sleep. His physician suggested he learn the WarmFeet relaxation technique and practice it daily. After two weeks he was almost pain-free. His vascular surgeon, who had been considering an amputation because of impending gangrene in his toes, saw improvement in his tissues and put the surgery off for the time being. The man, delighted to be free of pain and grateful for the improved circulation, was able to continue with his plan to go south for the winter. He continued to practice the technique nearly every day while away, and when he returned home in the spring he was still doing well.
Learning to use WarmFeet
The WarmFeet technique can be used as a self-help treatment to provide pain relief and healing or as a preventive effort to increase peripheral blood flow. For potential users who have had longstanding pain or chronic ulcers, the technique is best introduced by a health-care professional who can assist them in learning to relax and provide them with encouragement and hope. This introductory session usually takes around 30–45 minutes. The technique can then be practiced at home with the WarmFeet Kit, which includes a personal skin thermometer and a CD or audiotape with instructions on side one and the relaxation technique on side two. To maximize positive outcomes when using the WarmFeet technique, it is very important to spend time each day learning and practicing the skill of relaxation. New users often see some success right away with a small temperature increase of around 1–2°F. But practicing once or twice a day for 16 minutes at a time allows one to master the technique. With practice, the relaxation will come sooner and be deeper, and greater increases in skin temperature (4–10°F) may be seen.
Benefits from daily practic