I see many patients in clinic with Headaches and Migraines. Sometimes a client books an appointment in the hope to treat their headaches. Sometimes it’s mentioned in passing when we take a history in the initial consultation. Most people don’t realise that Chiropractic care could help with headaches.
Tension
There are many reasons that people suffer with headaches. Reasons for this can be related to tension in the neck and shoulders – either in the joints or muscles. If this is the case, then Chiropractic care can be very effective.
Several muscles in the shoulders and neck attach up to the skull. If these are tight and restricted, they can put pressure on the skull. This can cause tension and result in a headache.
This picture shows all the neck and shoulder muscles that attach up to the head.
If the joints in the neck are not moving properly then they can cause pain with sudden movement of the neck and head. This can also lead to tension in the muscles of the neck as they compensate to create the movement you require.
Stress
Stress plays a significant role in exacerbating headaches. When we find ourselves under stress, it tends to manifest as tension in our muscles. You may have noticed that during stressful times, we unconsciously hunch our shoulders up to our ears, holding our bodies in a state of constant tension. This tension is a result of our body’s fight or flight response, where our muscles prepare to exert energy for survival. However, in our modern world, most stressors are not life-threatening, and this tension remains unused even after the stress subsides. As a result, the muscles retain their tensed state, causing discomfort long after the stress has vanished. Chronic stress is especially common in relation to our jobs, pressures from work, or simply maintaining poor posture while sitting at a desk.
Dehydration
Dehydration can also be a cause of headaches. Drinking water regularly is good for many systems of your body and may help with reducing episodes of headaches.
Do not ignore headaches if you are having them, visit your GP to get them checked out. When should you go to your GP or A&E?
- If you are experiencing a headache that is worse than any you have ever had
- Your normal headaches have changed and feel worse
- You have a very bad headache and you feel unwell in other ways
After you have discussed your headaches with your GP, you can get in touch with me to see if Chiropractic care can help you
