Physiotherapy management of headaches
Headaches may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of Physiotherapy treatment, but believe it or not, physiotherapists are trained in the treatment and management of headaches.
There are lots of types of different headaches people experience including: tension headache, sinus headache, dehydration headache, migraines, and cluster headaches. At Ramp Up Physiotherapy, we provide treatment for tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches and migraines. Our page on treating Migraines is coming soon.
At Ramp Up Physiotherapy, we provide an in-depth assessment to determine the type of headache your experiencing and potential contributing factors.
Cervicogenic Headache
Cervicogenic headache is a type of headache that arises from the upper region of your cervical spine (the upper neck region) and the pain is felt in one or more areas of the head and face. Key signs that we look for in diagnosing cervicogenic headaches are: a unilateral presentation, associated neck dysfunction or pain, weakness in the neck muscles, tenderness in the cervical spine and exacerbated by posture or neck movements. When treating cervicogenic headaches we will often provide manual therapy to the neck and surrounding muscles, education about postures and proper ergonomics and some home exercises.
Tension Headaches
Tension type headaches are the most common type of headache. The exact causes of tension headaches remain largely unknown. Initially it was thought these headaches were caused from increased muscle tension in the neck, shoulder and jaw regions. However recent evidence suggests that fluctuations in neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the body) are associated with these headaches. Key signs that physiotherapists look for in tension headaches are: episodic frequency, often bilateral pain pattern, pain or pressure around head and neck, no associated signs of migraines. Similarly to cervicogenic headaches, physiotherapy management is likely to involve: hands-on massage or joint manipulation, prescription of strength or mobility exercises, and education about appropriate postures and ergonomics.
Determining any lifestyle contributions to headaches and the pattern of headaches can sometimes be difficult. A Headache Diary can be a great way to track and learn more about your headaches. Head to our resources page to find a copy.