Beyond the Cracks: Chiropractic Care for Headache and Migraine Relief
When you think of a chiropractor, where does your mind go? If you’re like most people, you probably think of back pain or immobility, and for good reason–chiropractors have a strong understanding of the spine! But have you ever considered chiropractic care for headache relief?
It may sound surprising, but in reality, certain types of headaches have their root in spinal impairment, particularly the cervical (neck) spine. For this reason, the chiropractors at PhysioPlus Health Group can help you understand the source of your headache–and find solutions to address it.
We understand that headaches can profoundly impact your day-to-day life. From a persistent, annoying twinge to a throbbing migraine complete with nausea and light sensitivity, headaches can keep us from our jobs, our friends and families, and even a good night’s sleep.
If your headache or migraine pain stems from a musculoskeletal impairment, chiropractic care could be the headache relief you’re looking for. Our team can let you know for sure.
To learn more, schedule an appointment at our Toronto, ON clinic today!
Headaches Versus Migraines: What’s the Difference?
Headaches are among the most common medical complaints in the world, and almost everyone has experienced one at least once. They can vary wildly in terms of severity, location on the head, and duration. You might have a mild sinus headache that goes away after a few hours, or you may experience persistent, recurring headaches that seem impossible to shake.
The most common form of headache is a tension-type headache, which occurs due to contracting muscles in the neck, face, or jaw. These contractions can have any number of triggers, such as stress, skipped meals, or lack of sleep.
Migraines are the second most common form of headache, impacting around 12% of people in Canada. A migraine is a much more complex condition than a tension-type headache, causing intense, throbbing pain in the side of the head and additional symptoms, namely light/sound sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting.
A migraine attack typically lasts between 4 hours and 3 days. As with tension-type headaches, certain factors can trigger an attack, although the exact triggers will vary from person to person. Triggers can include things like:
- Stress or anxiety
- Changes in the weather
- Too much or too little sleep
- Hormonal changes
- Low blood sugar
- And many more
Chiropractic Care’s Role in Headache Relief
Chiropractic care is more than just cracking spines! It’s a comprehensive field of healthcare focused on how poor spinal health can impact your overall well-being–including causing headaches or migraines.
While headaches and migraines can both stem from any number of triggers, neck and spinal tension is one of the more common. Poor posture and prolonged sitting can irritate your cervical spine and weaken the muscles in your neck and shoulders, leading to tension that radiates into a headache.
Our chiropractors can help you identify and address any spinal issues that might be causing your headaches. We’ll run a series of simple screens, including alignment checks, muscle strength, reflexes, and more, to give us a complete picture of your spinal health.
From there, we can develop a customized treatment program to help manage–and sometimes even resolve–persistent headache or migraine pain.
Chiropractic Care Techniques for Headache Relief
The PhysioPlus Health Group chiropractors have several tools at our disposal to help with headache pain. Here are just a few of the techniques we might try:
- Spinal Adjustments: This technique is a classic in chiropractic care. It involves thrusting your spine through its range of motion, helping to counteract the effects of a sedentary lifestyle and reducing the muscle tension in your neck and back.
- Postural Corrections: We can also help develop proper posture through targeted postural exercises and hands-on corrections. Good posture is more than just standing up straight; instead, it’s about finding the proper spinal alignment for you. We can show you how.
- Ergonomic Suggestions: Do you have a desk job? Prolonged sitting and extensive computer or phone use can all put undue strain on your neck muscles. We can show you how to set up your workstation to be as economical as possible, helping to minimize strain on the neck, back, and shoulders.
- Stress Management: Stress is a common headache and migraine trigger. Our chiropractors can teach you simple stress management strategies, such as deep breathing exercises or self-massage for your neck muscles.
We understand how debilitating headaches and migraines can be, especially if they occur regularly. Our chiropractor will work closely with you to develop a customized headache relief plan that addresses your specific needs and headache triggers.
Get Started with Headache Relief Today!
Chiropractic care for headache relief is a holistic approach to managing headaches and migraine attacks. We aim to find solutions that work for you so you can live a full, healthy lifestyle.
Ready to start your headache treatment with the PhysioPlus Health Group chiropractors? Schedule an appointment today!