Headaches & Migraine

Headaches Getting In The Way of Your Routine?

Physical Therapy Offers a Solution for Headaches.

Do you suffer from chronic headaches or migraine-related pain? If so, you might wonder exactly what contributes to your pain. Poor posture, stress, and other factors can cause you to experience weakness, strain, and injury to the neck muscles and joints. This pain radiates up into the scalp, side of the head, and even the forehead, depending on the area of the neck involved.

Frequet headaches are the third most commonly reported source of pain across the world, so rest assured that you’re not alone if this is something you’re dealing with.

Most of the time, the common reaction is to take some form of pain-relieving medication. It’s true that physical therapy isn’t normally someone’s first thought when they have a headache, however, it can really help.

Medications may help to relieve pain in the short-term, but if you are constantly suffering from headaches or migraines, pain relief drugs will not provide you with the same long-term effects that physical therapy will.

If you are in Homer Glen, Orland Park and Evergreen Park, IL and suffer from headaches, don’t hesitate to contact our physical therapy clinic. Whether they are acute and temporary or constant and chronic (such as migraines), headaches can all be treated with physical therapy at GoodLife Physical Therapy. Set up an appointment today!

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Do you have one of these headaches?

A greater majority of frequent headaches are attributed to cervicogenic headaches, meaning that they are related to the neck in some form.

However, many people may not know this, but there are actually different types of headaches that all develop from different causes.

The three main types of headaches include:

Musculoskeletal headaches

A traumatic injury to the neck, such as whiplash, is a common cause of musculoskeletal headaches. With neck injuries such as whiplash, the muscles and connective tissues in the neck can become torn or strained. This can lead to agonizing pain felt in the head, as well as in the face, shoulders, or neck.

Musculoskeletal headaches occur when there are significant amounts of tension in the neck. This is typically a result of physical imbalances, weaknesses, or damage, although emotional tension (such as stress) can also be a contributing factor.

Cervicogenic headaches

Professions that require a down-turned motion of the head or neck are the most prone to developing cervicogenic headaches. This may include hairdressers, long-haul drivers, chefs, nail artists, jewelers, etc.

Cervicogenic headaches are related to neck pain, involving the top three vertebrae of the neck. These headaches can develop as a result of certain conditions, such as a concussion or arthritis, but work-related strain can also trigger a cervicogenic headache.

Tension headaches

Tension headaches are caused by a strain on the “dura mater,” which is a sensitive membrane that envelops the brain. The dura mater lies in close proximity to small muscles at the base of the skull that goes into spasm when the dura mater becomes strained, thus sending pain signals to the brain and causing your headache.

This is the most common form of headache, and these can occur due to repetitive motions or poor posture in the neck/head. If you’ve ever noticed someone holding their head at their desk at work, it’s most likely due to one of these!

How can physical therapy give me relief from headache pain?

Choose PT states that physical therapy has been shown to help manage chronic headache pain in the following ways:

It can decrease or resolve the intensity, frequency, and duration of headaches.
Physical therapy can help you cut back on the need for medications.
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.

At GoodLife Physical Therapy in Homer Glen, Orland Park and Evergreen Park, IL, we are dedicated to providing you with the best treatments for your headaches. At your initial appointment, one of our highly trained physical therapists will conduct a physical evaluation and ask you questions about your health history and symptoms, in order to determine what type of headache you are experiencing and where the pain is stemming from.

A treatment plan will then be designed specifically for you and your recovery, most likely involving targeted exercises, manual therapy, and patient education to help reduce the number of headaches you end up experiencing in the future.

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.

Start Your Recovery Today!

Ready to find relief?

At GoodLife Physical Therapy in Homer Glen, Orland Park and Evergreen Park, IL, our treatments for headaches focus on relieving pain, improving posture, and strengthening muscles in the neck and upper back.

These will all help in making your daily life much more comfortable and bearable – without the pain of headaches! Call 708-966-4386 to speak to one of our physical therapists, or click here to request your appointment.