Headaches? Chiropractic Can Help!
Headaches? Chiropractic Can Help!
Dr. Anne Stacey, BSc, DC Chiropractor
Forces of Nature
There are many daily activities and habits that can lead to headaches. Poor posture, physical injury, and stress are some of the most common causes. When these occur, they can prevent normal movement of the many joints in your neck. When these joints do not move normally, they put pressure on the nerves in the area of reduced movement, which then, in turn, send pain signals to the already tight muscles and tissues around the neck and head. This causes many common headaches.
When was your last headache?
Headaches are very widespread in the population, where 90% of the population experiences one at some point in their lifetime. About 5% of the population (9% of women) suffers from chronic daily headaches. One third of these individuals overuse pain medications on a regular basis, often without realizing they are doing so.
Chiropractic spinal manipulations have been shown to decrease the severity and frequency of many types of headaches, particularly those caused by poor posture, injury, and stress. The spinal manipulations restore normal movement to your spine and relax the muscles in the area.
What kind of Headache do I have?
There are several types of headaches, including tension, cervicogenic. Most people experience cervicogenic or tension headaches. ÏCervicogenicÓ means Ïproduced by the cervical spineÓ, and these headaches are related to abnormal movement of the joints in the neck, and the associated tightness of the muscles surrounding them. They are usually moderately painful, with a sharp, achy or throbbing nature, and generally affect one side of the head. Tension headaches are often related, and are described as a moderately painful squeezing pressure around your head.
Not all headaches are cause by spinal misalignments. Sometimes caffeine, lack of nutrients, stress, allergies, menstruation, or poor sleep habits can cause headaches.
What does a chiropractor do to treat headaches?
The first visit to a chiropractor typically includes a consultation, a physical, neurological, and orthopedic examination, and palpation of the neck joints and muscles to assess movement irregularities and tension patterns. Sometimes x-rays are required to better understand the underlying cause. The chiropractor will then explain the results, provide a diagnosis, and outline the specific treatment plan.
Chiropractors do not prescribe medications, but use a range of manual techniques to relieve pain and reduce frequency and intensity of headaches. Gentle spinal manipulation, mobilizations, instrument adjusting, soft tissue therapy, and exercise are typically used. Chiropractic care has been proven to be extremely effective in treating cervicogenic and tension headaches as well as neck pain and stiffness.
Often, the frequency and intensity of headaches decreases rapidly. However, the body continues to heal even after the pain has gone. Continuing to have chiropractic care helps to retrain the body to move and function properly. Without the ongoing irritation related to joint dysfunctions, the bodyÌs nervous system functions more efficiently and is better able to heal itself. In time, exercise, a healthy diet, and periodic visits to the chiropractor helps patients stay healthy and pain-free!
References
Assendelft et al (2001) Efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic headaches: A systematic review. JMPT. 24(7): 457-466.
Castillo et al (1999) Epidemiology of Headaches in the General Population. Headache. 39(30):190-196.
Moore et al (2004) Upper Crossed Syndrome and its relationship to cervicogenic headaches. JMPT. 27(4): 414-420.
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