Are Headaches Holding You Back?
Relieve Your Headaches Once and for All with PT
Do you suffer from headaches or migraines on a regular basis? If this is the case, you might be wondering what’s causing your discomfort.
Muscle and joint weakness, strain, and injury in the neck can all be caused by poor posture, stress, and other factors. The pain may radiate from the scalp, the side of the head, or even the forehead, depending on the location of the body.
Headaches are the third most commonly reported cause of pain in the world, so if you’re suffering from one, you’ll be glad to know you’re not alone.
We understand that when someone has a headache, physiotherapy isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind, but it can be extremely beneficial!
Medications can help relieve pain in the short term, but if you are living with chronic headaches or migraines, pain relievers will not provide the same long-term benefits as physiotherapy.
If you are experiencing persistent headaches, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our Newcastle, ON physiotherapy services can treat both acute and chronic headaches.
Types of headaches PT can help
Many people may not know this, but there are different types of headaches that all develop from different causes! Knowing how to identify what kind of headache you’re experiencing will help you in the future to figure out which of your learned PT exercises will benefit you the most.
The three main types of headaches include:
Tension headaches
Pressure on the “dura mater,” a delicate membrane that surrounds the brain, causes tension headaches.
The dura mater is located near the small muscles at the base of the skull, which spasm when the dura mater is stressed, sending pain signals to the brain and causing a headache.
This is the most common type of headache, which can be caused by repetitive movements or poor neck/head posture. If you’ve ever seen someone at work with their head bowed at their desk, it’s most likely because they’re suffering from a tension headache.
Musculoskeletal headaches
Musculoskeletal headaches occur when the neck is under a lot of strain.
Physical imbalances, deficiencies, or injury are the most common causes, but emotional stress can also play a role.
Whiplash, a type of neck trauma, is a common cause of musculoskeletal headaches. Neck injuries, such as whiplash, can cause strain to the muscles and connective tissues in the neck. This can result in excruciating pain in the head, face, shoulders, and neck.
Cervicogenic headaches
The majority of headaches are caused by neck problems.
Cervicogenic headaches are a type of headache caused by pain in the neck’s top three vertebrae.
Cervicogenic headaches can be caused by a variety of conditions, such as concussion or arthritis, but they can also be caused by work-related strains.
These kinds of headaches are more common in people who work jobs that require a down-turned head or neck motion on a regular basis. Hairdressers, long-haul drivers, cooks, nail artists, jewelers, and other professionals fall into this category.
How can a physiotherapist help relieve my headaches?
At Newcastle Physiotherapy and Sports Rehab in Newcastle, ON, we are committed to providing you with the best treatment for your headaches.
One of our highly qualified physiotherapists will perform a physical exam and ask you questions about your health history and symptoms at your first appointment to determine what type of headache you are experiencing and where the pain is coming from.
A treatment plan will then be tailored specifically for you and your rehabilitation, most likely including targeted workouts, manual therapy, and patient education to help minimize the number of headaches you will end up having in the future.
Choose PT states that physiotherapy has been shown to help manage chronic headache pain in the following ways:
- Therapy can improve function and mobility.
- It can improve the ease of motion in the neck.
- You can experience an overall improved quality of life.
- It can decrease or resolve the intensity, frequency, and duration of headaches.
- Physiotherapy can help you decrease your need for or dependence on medications.
Remember that no two patients are alike, and neither are two treatment plans! The only way to find out what a therapist will recommend for your headache pain is to request an appointment with one.
You don’t have to live with headache pain every day.
Our therapy methods at Newcastle Physiotherapy and Sports Rehab are centered on pain relief, posture improvement, and muscle strengthening in the neck and upper back.
All of these will make your daily life much more relaxed and bearable, free of the discomfort of headaches!