Headache Treatment With Chiropractic Care
Headaches are a part of life we all deal with at one point or another, but that doesn’t make them any less painful. Over 6 million Australians are affected by headaches and migraines, and 9 out of 10 people manage their headache symptoms on their own. Headaches are annoying at best and agonising at worst, and can significantly affect a person’s quality of life.
However, there are options that may be able to help people who experience headaches frequently, such as those who participate in sports, office workers, and many others. Finding a chiropractor experienced in managing headache pain may be the best thing you’ll ever do when it comes to handling headaches and potentially decreasing their frequency and intensity.
This blog explains how chiropractic care may be able to assist in the management of headaches for many types of people. For further information, personalised advice, or to book a chiropractic appointment in Epping or Doreen, contact our professional and helpful team at Muscle Joint Bone today.
What Are The Main Types Of Headaches?
Headaches can vary considerably between people. One person may experience mild pain but can manage their daily duties effectively, while another may experience intense throbbing that requires them to lie down in a dark room. Additionally, headaches can vary within the same person. One headache may be mild, and the next they experience is severe and piercing.
Generally, the most common forms of headaches are:
Tension headaches— These headaches typically feel like a dull ache at the top of the head, almost as if it is a headband worn too tightly. It usually affects the temples, back of the head, and forehead, and can also be felt in the shoulder muscles. This type of headache is often caused by stress.
Cluster headaches— Cluster headaches are typically experienced on one side of the head and may come and go for around 24 hours, with each headache lasting between 15 minutes and three hours. These can often feel like a burning and piercing type of pain and are most common during autumn and spring.
Migraines— Migraines can last between two hours and several days and are often felt on one side of the head (though pain on both sides is possible). They can trigger sensitivity to light and sound and are typically a throbbing pain. Migraines can include additional symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.
Cervicogenic headaches— This type of headache often originates in the neck and can result in pain in one or more areas of the head or face. Cervicogenic headaches are often dull and aching, though pain and intensity can worsen.
Can A Chiropractor Help With Headaches?
Chiropractic care such as a chiropractic adjustment, or spinal manipulation, may help alleviate the pain from headaches. A chiropractor may also provide lifestyle tips that may help decrease the frequency and intensity of any headaches you experience in the future.
Unlike pain medication that mostly offers temporary relief, a chiropractor may be able to prevent headache pain for a longer period of time.
How Can A Chiropractor Help With Headaches?
The treatment you receive from your chiropractor should depend on your individual circumstances, which they will assess during your appointment. After assessing your symptoms, they may find that manual therapy, soft tissue therapy, or modalities such as acupuncture may be most beneficial to you.
In many cases, tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck tend to respond well to spinal manipulation. Spinal manipulation may also be useful for people who experience migraine and cervicogenic headaches. This is because spinal manipulation aims to reduce pain by improving nerve function and relieving pressure on joints that may be contributing to headache pain. Typically, this may result in improved spinal function and may reduce stress on your system.
Manual therapy performed by a qualified chiropractor generally produces favourable outcomes. This may be improved further with the addition to exercise, practising good posture, eating well, and drinking an adequate amount of water throughout the day.
Book A Chiro Appointment
If headaches are affecting your day-to-day life, chiropractic care may be the answer you’ve been searching for. Chiropractic care such as spinal manipulation and other manual therapies may be able to reduce the number of headaches you experience, their frequency, and intensity. To book an appointment with our knowledgeable and caring chiropractic team in Epping or Doreen, contact us at Muscle Joint Bone today.