Chiropractic Techniques for Headache and Migraine Relief
Headaches and migraines can be debilitating, affecting daily life and productivity. While both cause pain around the head, the two conditions do differ and need to be properly differentiated and diagnosed.
A unique feature of migraines is that they have three to four distinct phases which they progress through. These phases include the premonitory phase (a symptom that tells you a migraine is starting), aura (zagging lines in your vision, blind spots, or sensory disturbances), headache, and postdrome phases (feeling tired, sluggish, or washed out for sometime after). Migraines are often associated with triggers (i.e. stress, too much light, certain foods, muscle tension) that can kick start these phases. Often only one side of the head is affected by migraine and it is a painful throb or pulsation type feeling. Usually, people tend to want a quiet dark room where they can sleep it off the migraine undisturbed. Migraine tends to resolve within a day or two and will often have a typical recurring pattern with similar characteristics.
Headaches, however, do not have these sequential phases and may or may not cause nausea or light and sound sensitivity. It is a good idea to have headaches investigated, particularly if they are constant, new, have a sudden onset, or wake you at night.
One of the primary methods chiropractors use to help with these two conditions is spinal adjustments. Misalignments in the spine, particularly in the cervical (neck) region, can cause tension and irritation of the nerves, leading to headaches and migraines. By realigning the spine, chiropractic adjustments can reduce this nerve irritation and alleviate headache symptoms along with muscular tension triggers.
In addition to spinal adjustments, chiropractors may employ other techniques such as soft tissue therapy. This involves massaging and stretching the muscles around the neck and shoulders to relieve tension and improve blood flow. Improved circulation can reduce the frequency and severity of headaches.
Chiropractors also focus on identifying and addressing lifestyle factors that may contribute to headaches and migraines. This might include ergonomic advice for better posture, dietary recommendations to avoid trigger foods, and stress management techniques to reduce overall tension.
Research supports the effectiveness of chiropractic care for headaches. Studies have shown that patients receiving chiropractic treatment often experience significant reductions in the frequency and intensity of their headaches. Moreover, chiropractic care is a holistic approach that avoids the use of medications, which can have side effects and may lead to dependency.
If you’re struggling with headaches or migraines, consider consulting a chiropractor. This comprehensive approach aims to address the underlying causes of your pain, providing long-term relief and improving your quality of life.
References:
Headache vs Migraine: What’s the difference?
Buse, D.C., Loder, E.W., Gorman, J.A., Stewart, W.F., Reed, M.L., Fanning, K.M., Serrano, D., Lipton, R.B. (2013). Headache versus Migraine: A Focused Review. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 9, 739–756.
Headache is a broad term that refers to pain in the head, face, or neck region, and can have numerous causes. Migraine is a specific type of headache disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of moderate to severe head pain and involves activation of the trigeminovascular system and cortical spreading depression, which are not features of all headache types.
Chiropractic Effectiveness for Managing Migraines
Bryans, R., Descarreaux, M., Duranleau, M., Marcoux, H., Potter, B., Ruegg, R., Shaw, L., Watkin, R., White, E. (2011). The Effectiveness of Chiropractic Manipulation in the Treatment of Headaches: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The Spine Journal, 11(2), 130-136.
For migraine headaches, the studies found that chiropractic manipulation led to reductions in migraine frequency, intensity, and medication use compared to control groups.
The authors concluded that the evidence supports the use of chiropractic spinal manipulation as a viable option for the treatment of both tension-type and migraine headaches.
Chiropractic Effectiveness for Managing Headaches
Chaibi, A., Benth, J.Š., Tuchin, P.J., Russell, M.B. (2017). Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Chronic Tension-Type Headache: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Neurology, 89(19), 1978-1986.
In summary, this systematic review and meta-analysis provides high-quality evidence that chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy can be an effective approach for managing chronic tension-type headaches by reducing headache frequency, intensity, and medication use.
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