Chiropractor for Headaches

chiropractor for headaches

Chiropractors Can Help

Author: Dr. Paula Basilio (Chiropractor) B.Chiro.Sci (Macq), M.Chiro (Macq)

Welcome to My Back Relief Clinic! Thankfully, seeing a chiropractor may help in some headache cases. Let us assist you in managing your headache symptoms and enhancing your quality of life.

Headaches

Headaches

Headaches can range from a minor annoyance to a serious debilitating condition. There are some that experience from a very early age, such as 12 years, and there are some that don’t get their first headaches well into adulthood. It is important to understand that a headache can be caused by several reasons and that there are different treatments accordingly.

What Are The Common Headaches You Can Suffer From?

People suffer from several different headaches such as:

  • Migraines
  • Cluster headaches
  • Tension headaches
  • Cervicogenic headaches

Out of all the headaches the most common of these are tension headaches and next is migraines. However the lines distinguishing different headaches are often blurred and often these headaches can overlap. This means that people that suffer from tension headaches can get migraine-like symptoms as well.

What Can a Chiropractor Do For You?

Diagnosing the type of headache you suffer from is very important because there are different treatments for each. Chiropractic care helps especially well for tension and cervicogenic headaches.

The landmark paper ‘Clinical effectiveness of manual therapy for the management of musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal conditions: systematic review and update of UK evidence report1‘ states that there is “Positive” evidence to show that spinal manipulation can treat Cervicogenic headaches, and that the evidence is “Favourable” for treating Tension headaches.

These headaches are ones that are often caused from the muscles or joints in your neck. They can be very persistent and are often related to bad postures such as excessive time on the computers or phones. Chiropractic treatment often focuses on correcting these postural defaults to decrease tensions causing these sorts of headaches. Sometimes dysfunction in the TMJ can cause headaches.

Long term sufferers are often encouraged to follow a rehab program to strengthen the surrounding muscles, so you get less trouble from these headaches on a daily basis. Stretching and therapy may also help.

Video: Quick Stretch For Tension Headaches

Headache FAQs

For many people, yes. Chiropractic care may help with certain types of headaches, particularly those coming from the neck (cervicogenic headaches) and tension-type headaches. At My Back Relief Clinic in Dulwich Hill, we start with a thorough assessment to work out what type of headache you have and whether chiropractic care is right for you. If it isn’t, we’ll refer you to the right health professional.Care may include gentle spinal adjustments, soft tissue work, and posture and movement advice to reduce strain on the neck and upper back. These are common contributors to headaches for desk workers and busy parents across the Inner West.

It varies from person to person. Some people notice changes within the first few visits, while long-standing headaches usually take longer. How quickly you respond depends on how long you’ve had headaches, what’s driving them, your posture and work habits, and your general health.After your initial assessment, we’ll explain what we found and give you a clear Health Action Plan with recommended visits and regular progress checks, so you always know where you stand.

Yes. Stiffness, restricted movement or muscle tension in the upper neck can refer pain into the head. This is known as a cervicogenic headache. Poor posture, long hours at a screen, stress and old injuries can all contribute.At My Back Relief Clinic, we assess how your neck and upper back are moving to see whether they may be contributing to your headaches. We also screen for warning signs that need medical attention first. If you experience a sudden, severe or unusual headache, see your GP or go to the emergency department.

Chiropractor for Headaches

If you’re looking to see a chiropractor for headaches, get in touch with our clinic today.

Reference

[1] Clar, C. et al. “Clinical effectiveness of manual therapy for the management of musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal conditions: systematic review and update of UK evidence report.” Chiropractic & manual therapies (2014). URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24679336