Headaches

Chiropractic Treatments for Headaches

Chiropractic treatments provide safe, natural relief of headaches.

Headaches can be debilitating and are one of the most common illnesses in Australia. It is believed that around 15% of people are taking pain killers at any one time for relief of a headache. Causes are varied but many are treatable via chiropractic care. Common factors causing headaches that are often helped with chiropractic treatment include, postural overload, current or past injury (especially to the neck, upper back or jaw), whiplash, stress and muscular tension, jaw problems, imbalance of the nervous system (inflamed, damaged or irritated nerves), pain referral (joint, muscle, ligament, nerve or organ).

A thorough full spine assessment , combined with a detailed history, x-rays and often MRI scans are utilised to assess the cause of the problem. Treatment will vary depending on the location and cause of the pain, but many people find a reduction in headaches almost immediately with chiropractic care. Treatment includes adjustments and mobilisations to align the spine, massage work to relieve the muscle tension, dietary advice to ensure the body is getting enough nutrients and optimum hydration, stress reduction techniques including breathing and meditation to relieve muscle tension and exercises to strengthen posture and spinal function.

A study done at Macquarie University showed that specific chiropractic adjustments to the spine reduced headaches and migraines in 71% of the people surveyed. The frequency, duration, severity and amount of medication used were all significantly reduced.

Tuchin, P. et al. (2000). A randomized controlled trial of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for migraine. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 23(2), 91-95.

Massage Therapy

Headaches: This can be attributed to tight jaw, neck and shoulder muscles. In Remedial Massage, it is important look at jaw muscles like the masseter as well as neck and shoulder muscles like sub-occipital muscles, scalenes, splenius capititis and SCM. Headaches can be due to the referral patterns from Trigger Points in these muscles. We can reduce tension in tight muscles with Trigger Point therapy, dry needling and stretching.