Headaches can be common in people of all ages and can vary in intensity and frequency. Usually, medication is used as the first line of defence, however, did you know that physiotherapy can also effectively treat headaches. In this blog, we’ll explore the different types of headaches, their potential triggers, and how physiotherapy can provide relief and prevent recurring episodes.
What are the different types of headaches?
- Tension Headaches: These are often caused by muscle tension and stress. You will feel a dull, constant pain around the head, especially the temples and the back of the neck.
- Migraines: This is a complex neurological condition which is caused by changes in brain activity. You will experience intense, throbbing pain. They can often be accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light, and visual disturbances.
- Cervicogenic Headaches: These headaches originate from neck and cervical spine problems. They bring pain that radiates from the neck to the head and is often triggered by neck movements.
- Cluster Headaches: Characterized by their distinct cyclical patterns, they are severe headaches that come in groups. Accompanying symptoms can include nasal congestion, tearing of the eye, and restlessness
How can Physiotherapy help?
1. Professional Assessment: Our physiotherapists at Melbourne Physiotherapy Pilates and Fitness Group will carry out a thorough assessment of your headaches to identify the root cause and triggers. From this they can create a personalized treatment plan.
2. Manual Therapy: If the cause of your headaches is muscular tension or reduced mobility our physiotherapists will do hands on treatment to alleviate these triggers. They can release muscle tension and increase mobility in the joints which in turn will alleviate headache symptoms.
3. Exercise Plan: Our physiotherapists will provide you with personalised exercises to stretch, strengthen and stabilise the neck muscles. These will reduce the likelihood of headaches reoccurring aswell as relieve current symptoms.
4. Dry Needling: Here at Melbourne Physiotherapy Pilates and Fitness Group we offer dry needling that is targeted towards headache alleviation. If successful, you will feel results within 24 hours of this treatments.
5. Advice and Education: Headaches can be a complicated issues and we will ensure to take time to explain our finding and treatments to you. We can also advise you on how to improve your posture and possible ergonomic set-up at work as this can also be a big culprit to causing headaches.
To summarise
Physiotherapy offers a multifaceted and personalized approach to managing headaches. Here at Melbourne Physiotherapy Pilates and Fitness Group we will address not only the symptoms but also the underlying causes. By combining hands-on techniques, targeted exercises, education, we can empower you to finally take control of your headaches. If you’re tired of living with headaches, consider booking an appointment with us today!
MPPFG Team
