Rhythmic biofeedback technique

Claim 1

A rhythmic biofeedback technique for inducing relaxation to counteract the adverse physiological and psychological effect of chronic stress on an individual of a given age and physical condition, the technique comprising the steps of: A. electronically monitoring the heart beat of an individual being treated and displaying the prevailing rate to him as he undergoes a rhythmic conditioning session constituted by successive exercise-relaxation cycles extending for a predetermined period, each cycle having a duration which is a small fraction of said period; B. electronically producing a first indication when the prevailing rate reaches a peak representing a predetermined safe upper limit and electronically producing a second indication when the prevailing rate reaches a predetermined acceptable lower limit, said predetermined upper and lower limits defining a target heart rate zone for the particular individual being treated, the boundaries of this zone being a function of the individual's age and physical condition; and C. in the course of each cycle of the conditioning session requiring the individual to operate within said target zone by raising his level of exertion, as indicated by said first indication, to a peak representing said safe upper limit, following which he is required to reduce his exertion until he reaches said acceptable lower limit as indicated by the second indication at which a recovery-relaxation response takes place.