Headaches are perhaps the most common type of pain that a lot of people all over the world suffer from. If it’s a one-off experience, then it's mostly tolerable for a majority of people. But if it’s a frequent pain that you endure at almost regular intervals, then you definitely need some professional intervention. In fact, in some cases, headaches can become too extreme that it just completely disables your ability to function properly!
Most bouts of headaches have underlying musculoskeletal and biochemical causes, which means that they can be managed with the right kind of treatment, given time. If you want to free yourself from debilitating bouts of headache, then you first need to understand what causes it.
People just know headaches to be the most common type of pain that humans can feel in their lifetime. But beyond that simple definition, there are actually many different categories of headaches, each with its own set of causes.
Tension Headache: These are basically chronic headaches that a lot of people experience. If you have a tight or strained neck, it can quickly go into a spasm that then irritates a membrane called the dura mater. The dura mater is the one responsible for flooding your head with that aching sensation.
Cervicogenic Headache: When your neck remains in the same position for some time, it can cause neck strain that eventually leads to headaches.
Cluster Headache: Whenever you feel that piercing pain or severe burning sensation in your head, you’re experiencing cluster headaches. They usually occur in a series, with each individual headache lasting from 15 minutes to a couple of hours. On average, those suffering from this experience about four headaches a day.
Migraine: This is characterised by an intense pulsing from deep within your head. Migraines can last for days and leave you sensitive to light and sound as well. They are often associated with nervous system conditions and can be a sign of something much more serious.
Physiotherapists at Anytime Physio recommend getting an evaluation of what type of headache you’re experiencing and what causes it. A professional physiotherapist will identify the mechanical trigger of your headache and correct some of the muscle imbalances that are probably causing it.
Some of the treatment that physiotherapists employ include:
Strengthening exercises targeting your neck muscles and loosening them up. These can pacify some of the stress in your neck that is causing the headaches.
Manual physiotherapy adjustments also help correct any skeletal misalignment that also puts some strain on your neck. This can be an effective way to alleviate cluster headache attacks.
Postural or ergonomic changes can help you correct your posture to avoid having “text neck” and other occupational headache triggers. If paired with other corrective exercises, they can be of great help to you.
If you recently had a headache-induced concussion, you need a carefully-administered set of physiotherapy sessions to help you recuperate effectively.
Treating headaches with physiotherapy can provide a range of benefits beyond just getting rid of the pain in your head. They can help you regain better posture and be more conscious of the kind of movement that may cause headaches.
Chronic headaches can be a debilitating symptom if left untreated. Instead of allowing yourself to be one of the millions of headaches sufferers out there, let a professional physiotherapist help you out.
Get the help that you need from Anytime Physio! We are the most convenient and reliable physiotherapy clinic in Brisbane offering remedial massage, podiatry, dry needling, and lymphatic drainage massage. Let our team of highly trained physiotherapists develop a personalised treatment for you. Book an appointment today and start your journey towards health and recovery!