Living With Chronic Headaches? Excel Physical Therapy Can Help!
Do you get headaches regularly? Muscle and joint weakness, strain, and damage in the neck, caused by poor posture, or stress can cause headaches. Typically, they can cause discomfort that radiates from the side of the head, or even the forehead.
Although physical therapy is not always the first thing that comes to mind when looking for headache relief, it can be extremely beneficial. Unfortunately, medications may only help relieve pain in the short term. This is why if you are living with chronic headaches, physical therapy is the key to long-term relief.
Call today at (920) 233-8739 for more information or click here to make an appointment!
Types Of Headaches You May Be Suffering From
Knowing how to recognize the type of headache you are experiencing will aid you in determining which physical therapy treatments will benefit you the most.
Common types of headaches include:
Tension Headache
Tightness in the muscles at the top vertebrae, base of the skull, muscles of the head and jaw can cause headache. A tension headache results from tightness, tension or sensitivity in the muscles of the upper neck, head and jaw. Poor posture, muscle weakness, stress and sleep disruption can contribute to development of a tension headache.
Cervicogenic
Cervicogenic headaches are caused by a problem in the neck that is referred to the head. Conditions such as spinal tightness, postural problems, arthritis, or even work-related strains can cause them to develop. These kinds of headaches are more common in people who work jobs that require a down-turned head or neck motion regularly.
If the neck is overworked, a musculoskeletal headache can happen. The most common causes are muscle imbalances, postural problems or injury, but emotional stress can also play a role. Whiplash along with other neck injuries can put a strain on the muscles and connective tissues and cause cervicogenic – musculoskeletal headaches.
Migraine
Migraine is a common headache that occurs due to an underlying neurological condition that can result in episodic or chronic sensitization of certain areas of the brain and nerves that supply sensation to the head and face. The exact cause of migraine is unknown but there is a strong genetic contribution. Migraine is not a static condition and it is often triggered by various factors including food, emotional stress, abnormal postures, muscle and joint problems in the neck and head. Addressing “trigger areas” in the head, neck, jaw and face can reduce the frequency and severity of migraine episodes.
Mixed Headaches or Chronic Daily Headaches
Chronic daily headaches are often mixed headaches with multiple causes including cervicogenic, tension headaches, migraine and medication overuse or rebound headaches.
How Can Excel Physical Therapy Help With Headache Pain?
At Excel Physical Therapy in Oshkosh and Appleton, WI, we will provide you with the best treatment for your headaches. One of our highly skilled physical therapists will do a physical assessment during your first appointment.
This assessment will determine the type of headache you’re having and the source of your discomfort.
Afterward, we will develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will involve focused workouts, manual therapy, and patient education.
Excel Physical Therapy shows how physical therapy helps manage chronic headache pain by:
- Therapy can improve function and mobility.
- Physical therapy can help you decrease your need for or dependence on medications.
- It can improve posture, increase ease of motion in the neck, jaw and head reducing head and neck triggers
- Reduced muscle and soft tissue sensitivity can trigger headaches
- It can decrease or resolve the intensity, frequency, and duration of headaches.
- Overall improved quality of life while increasing tolerance of activities and exercise.
- Dry needling, specific exercise and manual therapy stimulate the body’s natural pain reduction systems
- Help patients understand their triggers.
Allow us to help you manage headache pain
Physical therapy could be your key to a healthier, pain-free life. The therapy methods at Excel Physical Therapy are centered on pain relief, posture improvement, and muscle strengthening in the neck and upper back. All of these will make your daily life much more relaxed and bearable, free of the discomfort of headaches! To consult with one of our Oshkosh or Appleton, WI physical therapists, call (920) 233-8739 or click here to make an appointment.