Impact of Biofeedback Training on Athletic Performance and Mental Well-Being
İlinsu Demiralp1
, Özgür Eken2
1Faculty of Sports Sciences, İstanbul Aydın University, İstanbul, Türkiye
2Faculty of Sports Sciences, İnönü University, Malatya, Türkiye
Keywords: Biofeedback, performance, sport
Abstract
This study employs a systematic review approach to evaluate the effects of biofeedback (BFB) methods on athletic performance and psychological well-being. In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, TR Index, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed were searched for studies published between 2000 and 2024; of 88 identified papers, 24 met the inclusion criteria for qualitative analysis. The interventions examined included electromyography (EMG), electroencephalography (EEG), electrodermal activity (EDA), heart rate variability (HRV), thermal feedback, and isokinetic dynamometry. These methods were found to reduce muscle tension, enhance autonomic nervous system balance, improve mental focus, and facilitate stress regulation. Specifically, EMG-based feedback supported motor learning by increasing muscle strength and proprioceptive awareness, while EEG-based neurofeedback enhanced performance consistency and mental endurance under pressure. EDA and HRV protocols effectively modulated stress-induced physiological responses, and thermal feedback bolstered relaxation strategies. Although the findings underscore BFB's role as an interdisciplinary tool for optimizing athletes' physical and psychological processes, further large-scale, longitudinal studies are necessary to confirm its long-term efficacy and to develop sport-specific application protocols.
Cite as: Demiralp I, Eken O. Impact of Biofeedback Training on Athletic Performance and Mental Well-Being.Turk J Sports Med. 2026;https://doi.org/10.47447/tjsm.0915
All authors made equal, substantial, and intellectual contributions to the literature review, data analysis, and interpretation of the findings for the completion of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the final version of the manuscript, discussed the results, and approved the final manuscript.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to authorship and/or publication of the article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or publication of this article.
