Understanding Tension Headaches and How Physiotherapy Can Help
Did you know headaches are the third most common type of pain? That’s correct. Headaches are extremely common and can be debilitating, affecting a person’s quality of life.
Fortunately, long-term relief is possible with headache physiotherapy. A trained physiotherapist can help you get immediate relief from stress-related headaches as well as any other pain conditions or ailments that may be causing you pain.
What is a Tension Headache?
Tension headaches occur when the neck and scalp muscles contract or become tense, and people can start experiencing them at any age, although they’re the most common type of headache in adults and older teens.
Tension headaches usually begin at the back of the head and travel to the top of the head and eyes. You can also feel pressure on your face around your jaw and cheeks when you experience this kind of headache.
Many people have related this kind of pain to wearing a tight hat, their hair being tightly pulled back, or a squeezing sensation in the head.
Common Causes of Tension Headaches
There is a wide range of potential causes or triggers for tension headaches:
- Stress
- Depression & anxiety
- Poor posture
- Arthritis
- Neck injury
- Eye strain
Tension headaches often occur as a result of high stress, poor posture, problems with the neck or jaw, fatigue, or arthritis.
3 Ways Physiotherapy Can Help With Headaches
Although the end goal of physiotherapy is pain relief, there are some critical things along the way that your physiotherapist will help you address so that you can achieve a decrease in pain.
- Improved strength and muscle ability. You’ll learn exercises to help strengthen the muscles that control your upper back and neck. This way your posture will improve, and you’ll be able to sit or stand for long periods without experiencing pain and discomfort.
- Adjusting the way your neck moves. Your physiotherapist can use manual therapy to stretch muscles in your neck to relieve pain and increase range of motion.
- Posture improvement. How your posture is held during the day significantly impacts your pain levels and the likelihood of experiencing a stress-related headache. Your physiotherapist will teach you how to improve your posture for a greater quality of life.
How Will Physiotherapy Help Relieve My Headaches?
A licensed physiotherapist can conduct a complete physical exam of your body and condition, as well as ask you the appropriate questions regarding your health history.
He or she will be able to figure out what type of headache you’re experiencing and determine the best way to combat it and bring much-needed pain relief.
During your first visit, you can expect most of the following:
- Measurements regarding the range of motion of your shoulders, neck, and other relevant parts of the body
- Questions about the types of pain symptoms experienced
- Questions regarding previous injuries to your back, jaw, and head areas
- Tests of your muscle strength
- Examination of your posture while engaged in different activities
- Manual therapy to ascertain the mobility of joints and muscles in your neck
Depending on whether your physiotherapist determines that you’re dealing with tension headaches, you will begin to work together to create a care plan that will successfully meet your physical health goals.
If your physiotherapist’s evaluation determines a different type of headache, he or she will likely refer you to a different type of healthcare professional for treatment.
Your physiotherapy treatment plan will almost certainly include a combination of treatment methods, such as, but not limited to:
- Exercises that strengthen and stretch the muscles in your neck can help to alleviate the stresses that cause your headaches.
- Chiropractic adjustments can help to correct skeletal misalignment problems that put your neck muscles under unnatural strain. These modifications may also aid in the reduction of headache attacks.
- Laser therapy and massage therapy can both relax tight neck tissues and hasten muscle recovery.
- Postural/ergonomic changes and corrective exercises can help you avoid “text neck” and other occupational headache triggers.
If your headaches are the result of a recent concussion, a well-managed course of physiotherapy can actually help you recover from that concussion faster.
9 Types of Headaches
Most people experience headaches as they grow older. Many headaches go away on their own and don’t need medical intervention.
However, severe headaches that recur frequently and interfere with quality of life often demand attention from a professional.
First, you must identify the type of headache you’re experiencing. Then from there, a comprehensive treatment plan can be created according to your specific needs for pain relief.
Physiotherapists are skilled at diagnosing different types of headaches and can develop simple strategies for pain relief from tension headaches.
Below are 9 common types of headaches, according to Healthline:
- Hypertension
- Rebound
- Exertion
- Post-traumatic
- Stress (tension)
- Migraine or sinus
- Caffeine
- Hormone
- Cluster
If you’re unsure what kind of headache you’re experiencing, no problem! Your physiotherapist will be able to diagnose and treat it accordingly.
Contact Us for Relief!
There is no justification why you need to continue living in constant pain and discomfort with so many care options open to you.
Contact Lake Country Physio today to experience long-lasting pain relief from headaches and boost your quality of life!
Sources:
https://ihs-headache.org/en/
https://www.healthline.com/health/headache/types-of-headaches
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Tension_Headaches