Can Physical Therapy Treat Stubborn Headaches?
After 25 years in practice, headaches are still one of the most common conditions that I encounter. A 2022 review published in The Journal of Headache and Pain found that 52% of the global population suffers from some type of headache. But just a few weeks ago, I had a patient tell me that she never realized physical therapy could be helpful for headaches or migraines. After being seen for 5 treatments, she was no longer having headaches, at all! So I would like to share with you why I think physical therapy is the best FIRST option for treating headaches and migraines.
Most of my patients have already been to numerous other types of practitioners- chiropractor, massage, orthopedic doctor, neurologist. Many of my patients with headaches are often on multiple medications or supplements. They are quite frustrated with their lack of relief or short lived improvements, and the continued debilitating effects of their headaches.What they are missing is a high- quality physical therapist: an expert looking at the whole picture and addressing all factors that are contributing to the problem. The main factors affecting migraine headaches vary from person to person but are often some combination of the following: muscle tightness, posture, spinal alignment and stability, work positioning, stress, nutrition, hydration, and more.
Some common causes of headaches are generalized neck tightness, poor posture, whiplash type injuries, and high or poorly managed stress levels. Poor posture causes increased tension in the muscles that attach to the skull. Think of it this way, the human head weighs about 12 pounds. But for every inch your head reaches forward, it adds another 10lbs of force required to hold your head up. Now think about all that extra force to your neck, all day long- in the car, at your desk, carrying children or grandchildren. When all that tension builds up, the muscles are overburdened and a headache comes on. Because many of these muscles also attach to the spine, upper ribs, and shoulder blades, headaches are often coupled with neck pain, shoulder pain and upper back pain.
This is where Victress Health can be a game changer. We will develop a treatment plan that is individualized to your symptoms and triggers, and address all the things contributing to your headaches. It is rarely ever just one thing! Our treatment plans will include various hands on manual techniques including dry needling and instrument assisted soft tissue massage, as well as exercises to improve flexibility, strength and posture. We also provide education on how to control and prevent your symptoms and help you address concerns you may be having with stress and how to better manage those situations. I love to include dry needling because I have found this to be one of the most effective and quickest ways to help relieve headaches. I will go into more detail in how dry needling works in another post, so stay tuned.
If you have been suffering with headaches and feel like you have tried everything, reach out to me and set up a free physical therapy consultation. You can call 937-557-5657 or use this free consult link.
Please don’t let your headaches keep you from enjoying life any longer!
– Tracy Poeppelman, PT
