Every day I see someone with headaches. Often, they report with what they call their “normal headache”. While headaches may be “common” or “typical” for some people, they are not “normal”. Headaches are a sign of imbalance. Something’s not right. It could be dehydration, muscle tension, or restricted joint mobility. Luckily, most headaches respond well to chiropractic treatment.
The most common type of headache I see is called a “tension headache”. Tension headaches are a result of muscle tension in the back of the head and neck that irritate the nerves that supply the head. This type of headache is typically described as a “pressure” or “tight band” around the head just above the ears. These types of headaches can be just as bad, or even worse than migraines.
Active Release Technique® in conjunction with chiropractic adjustments is my favorite approach for treating tension headaches. I find it to be an efficient treatment option that is also backed by research. By relaxing the muscles in the neck and improving joint mobility in the neck, we can take tension off the nerves that are causing the headache. Most tension headaches can be resolved within a few treatments, but recurrence is common. That’s why it’s important to incorporate a stretching and strengthening regiment to help limit future episodes.
5 Headache Tips:
1. Drink Water. Lots of it.
2. Exercise. You’ll be surprised what even 10 minutes of exercise a day will do for your headaches. Movement stimulates blood flow, which prevents muscles from becoming tense.
3. Stretch. Stretching will keep muscles flexible and pliable.
4. Posture. Make sure you aren’t looking down at your mobile devices or books. Hold them or prop them up at eye level. This will decrease the strain on the neck and upper back muscles and joints. Also, pay attention to your posture throughout the day. The small changes throughout the course of a day end up making a big difference by the end of the week, month, and year.
5. Get Adjusted. Keeping the neck joints mobile can limit the strain of the surrounding muscles.
Don’t accept your headaches as a “normal” occurrence in your life. Come see how else we can help you reduce your pain and improve your life!
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