The pain caused by headaches can have a significant effect on your health and well-being, negatively impacting your quality of life. Luckily, age-old practices like chiropractic care enable patients to take action against their pain.
If you’re new to the world of chiropractic care, this age-old health practice is a form of alternative medicine. It focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders associated with the musculoskeletal system, including headaches. Chiropractic care can include a combination of spinal manipulation, massages, and active and passive exercises.
Headaches: Know The Difference
Unless you’re lucky enough to not be a part of the 45 million Americans who suffer from headaches yearly, you’ll know that this medical ailment is painful and disruptive.
There are three common types of headaches: tension, migraine, and cervicogenic. Let’s discuss them more in-depth here:
Tension headaches
These headaches tend to feel like a band-like tension around your head. Pain can be felt on one or both sides of your head, and it may cause light sensitivity. These headaches can also be referred to as stress headaches.
Migraines
Migraines, on the other hand, are usually pain that manifests on one side of the head. These types of headaches can be accompanied by nausea, as well as sensitivity to light and sound.
Cervicogenic headaches
Cervicogenic refers to something that originates from the cervical spine or other parts of the neck, such as nerves or muscles. The neck is often to blame for these pesky headaches. Pain can also be felt in the face or other parts of the body. Although a common factor of this type of headache can be a stiff neck, family history may also play a role.
Chiropractic Care for Headaches
People often turn to painkillers to get rid of a headache, but did you know that a visit to your chiropractor can work wonders? It is non-invasive and helps you get to the root of the issue.
Chiropractors are trained to assess, diagnose, and manage headaches. Chiropractic care specifically treats cervicogenic and tension headaches. Here are a few of the different treatment types that can help reduce or get rid of headaches:
1. Soft Tissue Therapy
During this form of therapy, a chiropractor uses massage techniques to release knots and break down scar tissue. This will improve your range of motion and help relieve pain. Imagine the joy of feeling relief from a pesky headache.
2. Manual Therapy
During this form of care, kneading and the manipulation of muscles are used to improve mobility and joint manipulation. This is especially helpful for cervicogenic headaches.
3. Rehabilitation
Chiropractors can also help patients through a rehabilitation process. This can decrease or resolve the intensity, duration, and even the frequency of your headaches.
4. Lifestyle changes
Chiropractors are also trained to prescribe lifestyle changes for their patients. For headaches, this may include having a regular sleep pattern, eating regular meals, and avoiding stress.
5. Modalities
Lastly, chiropractors can also make use of modalities to treat headaches. This can include the use of hot or cold packs, trigger point injections, and electric stimulation.
Make an Appointment to Say Goodbye to Headaches
Make an appointment with a top chiropractor today to improve your quality of life and put you on the path toward headache-free days.
