New research from Murdoch University has revealed that using a heart rate monitor to calm the nervous system can significantly reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain.
The study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, tested a technique known as Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Biofeedback. The approach helps people monitor and regulate their heart rate in real time through an app connected to a chest sensor. Researchers found that this self-regulation method can improve both emotional and physical well-being.
The clinical trial involved 73 Australian adults diagnosed with both PTSD and chronic pain—two conditions that often occur together and are difficult to treat at the same time. Participants who completed the six-week HRV biofeedback program showed a 24 percent drop in PTSD symptoms and nearly a 25 percent improvement in how pain affected their daily lives. By contrast, those on a waitlist saw no clinical improvements.
Lead author and PhD student Thea Chadwick, from Murdoch University’s School of Psychology, said the findings show how targeting the body’s automatic responses can help restore balance between mind and body. “Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback teaches people to coordinate their breathing with their heart rhythms, strengthening the brain–body connection,” she explained.
Ms. Chadwick added that improvements in nervous system flexibility led to better emotional regulation and reduced the impact of pain on everyday functioning. She described biofeedback as a low-cost, accessible treatment option that could work well alongside existing trauma and pain therapies.
“This is the first controlled trial to show that improving physiological self-regulation can simultaneously reduce PTSD and chronic pain,” Ms. Chadwick said. The study was conducted by Murdoch University’s School of Psychology, Personalised Medicine Centre, and Centre for Healthy Ageing within the Health Futures Institute.
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