Headaches, Migraines and Chiropractic

According to a study carried out in North America, Europe and Australia approximately 10% of all chiropractic patients attend for the treatment of headaches.

The most common causes of headache are:

• Dysfunction of the joints in the neck
• Physical trauma
• Emotional stress
• Nutritional imbalance
• Dehydration
• Visual strain.

These are all common benign conditions that are easily recognised and treated. However, in rare cases, headaches and migraines can be a sign of a more serious problem.

The first step in the treatment is to make sure that chiropractic treatment is the right one for you.

The most common types of headaches include:

• Cervicogenic headaches: They are the most common type of headache. They are caused by problems with the joints and muscles of the neck, which refer pain to the head. They are often located to the back of the head and behind the eyes.
• Migraine headaches: They are normally located to one side of the head and are often accompanied by nausea, visual disturbances and sensitivity to light. They are often preceded by an aura, caused by the contraction and expansion of blood vessels in the head. There are many different types and triggers.
• Tension headaches: The cause is tension or spasm in muscles surrounding the skull, often described as feeling like a tight band around your head. They are often associated with cervicogenic headaches.

How Do We Treat Headaches?

Unlike pain killing drugs, we treat the cause of the pain not just the pain itself. We will carry out a full examination (including x-rays if necessary) and ask you detailed questions about your medical history and lifestyle, to identify the cause of your headaches.

Once the diagnosis has been made, we will use a variety of specific manipulation or adjustment techniques in order to:

• Mobilise (release) the neck joints
• Stretch, relax and strengthen the neck muscles
• Remove the cause of the pain.

Some patients enjoy almost immediate relief, whilst others notice a gradual easing of their symptoms over a period of several weeks. This will depend on the nature and chronicity of the problem.

If you want more information, please contact us here.

Go to Chiropractic treatment for Migraines