Chiropractic Care for Headaches
Are you prone to headaches? If so, you’ve probably realized that performing normal, day to day activities is nearly impossible if you suffer from them consistently. If severe enough, like a migraine, it feels like relief is unachievable at times. Maybe you’ve tried everything to manage your headaches. But have you ever tried a more holistic approach to find relief, such as chiropractic treatment that involves spinal manipulation, exercises, massage, and stretches? We know what you’re thinking. How do headaches have anything to do with chiropractic? In actuality, it has everything to do with the spine’s alignment with the neck.
According to the American Chiropractic Association (AOC), “About 5 percent of all headaches are warning signals caused by [disease]. The remaining 95 percent of headaches are primary headaches, such as tension, migraine, or cluster headaches . . . The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck.” The chances of having a headache directly related to a neck problem are quite high. Still not convinced? Keep reading to find out which chiropractic techniques suit your headache.
Tension Headaches
Episodic tension headaches are the most common. They occur periodically, usually less than fifteen days per month. Over-the-counter pain medication happens to be the better course of action since spinal manipulation has not been found to help with episodic tension headaches. That’s a different story when it comes to chronic tension headaches, which occur more than fifteen days per month. A low-load craniocervical mobilization technique is used to relieve chronic tension headaches. This involves spinal manipulation but with lighter force. Force is gently put on the neck joints, which allows for smoother movement of the cervical segments. Stretching is also recommended in order to prevent chronic tension headaches from getting so bad.
Cervicogenic Headaches
Cervicogenic headaches involve a one-sided pain that begins at the back of your head then moves to the front. It is often accompanied by shoulder or arm pain. It’s believed that cervicogenic headaches come from an untreated, underlying neck problem that is triggered by a fresh injury. These headaches are less common and typically don’t get better with pain medication. For this reason, spinal manipulation should only be used for patients suffering from cervicogenic headaches. Spinal manipulation involves your chiropractor adding controlled force to specific joints in your spine. Joint mobilization is another technique in which your joints are moved passively to improve movement and reduce pain. Deep neck flexion exercises for cervicogenic headaches involve actively flexing your muscles and joints with attentive guidance from your chiropractor.
Migraines
Migraines differ from headaches in the way that they can bring on dizziness and nausea. Medication and injections for relief and prevention of migraines is an option, but chiropractic treatment is a more holistic option if you don’t want to go the drug route. Neuromuscular massage involves a keen focus on the trigger points in the back, neck, shoulder, and head. A combination technique called multidisciplinary care interventioninvolves physical therapy exercises, stress management, dietary counseling, and relaxation techniques. This combination of care has been proven to reduce the duration, frequency, and pain associated with migraines.
Whichever type of headache affects you, we will help you get back to feeling like yourself. Contact our office today to learn how we can get you started on a treatment plan.
More Articles
- Caring for Your Joints and Muscles While Travel...
- Chiropractic Assistance for Sports Injuries
- Common Symptoms of Extremity Pain
- Conditions Treated by Spinal Decompression Ther...
- Chiropractors Can Help Relieve Lower Back Pain ...
- Common Causes of Pinched Nerves
- Getting to the Root of Shoulder Pain
- Causes of Neck Pain Your Chiropractor Can Help ...
- Chiropractic Care and Rest
- Problems in the Back Muscles
- Help for Herniated Discs
- Staying Safe While Groundskeeping
- Tightness in the Soft Tissues
- Backpack Usage
- Chiropractic and Headaches
- Good Habits for Your Spine at Work
- Maintaining Musculoskeletal Safety
- Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
- Causes and Symptoms of Sciatica and How to Trea...
- Treating and Preventing Neck Pain
- Treating Your Back Pain
- Exercise for Fibromyalgia
- Spinal Decompression Therapy
- Travel for People with Musculoskeletal Trouble
- 10 Ways to Relieve Your Back Pain
- Whiplash Symptoms and Treatment
- Neck and Arm Radiculopathy Sharp pain
- Burner Stinger and Neck Injuries
- Frozen Shoulder
- Chiropractors Approach Sciatica
- Chiropractic Care for Pregnant Women
- Sleeping with Less Joint Pain
- Chiropractic Care and Heart Health
- Avoiding Neck Pain in the New Year
- Strengthen Your Immune System
- What is a Herniated Disc?
- National Chiropractic Health Month
- Proper Desk Posture
- Chiropractic Treatment For Auto Accident Injuries
- Hiking and Chiropractic
- Back Comfort at Home
- Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Runners
- What Is Multiple Sclerosis?
- Chiropractic Care for Headaches
- Back Muscle Spasms
- New Year, New Spine
- Slip & Fall Accidents During This Holiday Season
- Tips for Traveling with Joint Pain
- Prevent Back Injury While Doing Yard Work
- Brachial Plexus Injuries
- How Chiropractors help Athletes
- What Is Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS)?
- Degenerative Neck Pain
- Tips to Healthier Living this summer
- Back Pain and the Gluteal Region
- Workplace Habits and Poor Posture
- The Connection between Whiplash and Concussions
- Psychological Consequences of Back Pain
- What Is Sciatica?
- Effects of Inflammation in the Body
- Three Major Types of Mattresses
- How Standing Affects the Back
- Pregnancy Aches and Pains: How Chiropractic Can...
- Pediatric Chiropractic
- Chiropractic Approach to Arthritis
- Physical Effects of Stress
- Myofascial Release Technique
- Sleeping Positions for Aches and Pains
- Causes and Treatments of Hip Pain
- Back Pain in Cold Weather
- How the Change of Seasons Affects Our Health
- Chiropractic Treatment for Migraine Headaches
- Graston Technique
- Vertigo and Chiropractic Care