Migraine Headaches Treatment
Headaches are defined by the type and location of pain in the head, and they impact 47 per cent of the world’s population. Many headaches are harmless and go away on their own. More frequent mild to severe headaches, on the other hand, can impair your ability to do daily tasks and lower your quality of life. People may cause headaches due to:
- Tension.
- Cervicogenic or neck muscle-related.
- Migraine.
- Secondary headaches are caused by an underlying ailment such as a fever, an infection, a sinus problem, or, in rare situations, a tumour or a more severe sickness.
- Unspecified headaches.
Migraine headache treatment in Fort Collins, CA, is provided by a physical therapist who will conduct a clinical assessment to determine the type of headache and establish a treatment plan. Physical therapy has been demonstrated to help with the following issues:
- Reduce or eliminate headache intensity, frequency, and duration.
- Reduce the amount of medication you take.
- Improve your mobility and function.
- Increase the range of mobility in your neck.
- Enhance your quality of life.
Various Ways To Treat Headaches
Manual Therapy
Hands-on treatments are used to relieve joint and muscle stiffness, increase head and neck mobility, reduce muscular tension and spasms, and improve muscle performance. Dry needling is a technique used by some physical therapists to treat specific forms of headaches.
Exercise
In the treatment of cervical headaches and migraines, exercise should be your primary strategy. Your physical therapist may recommend exercises to improve neck motion and relieve pressure on the cervical nerves. These exercises would include:
- Cervical retraction
- Cervical flexion
- Cervical side bending
- Cervical rotation
If you’re doing neck exercises for headaches, make sure to move slowly and steadily. Avoid sudden or jerky movements. Your physical therapist may instruct you to apply overpressure to each neck stretch with your hands, and the end range position of stretches may be held for up to one minute.
Postural Correction
If you have a forward head position, the nerves that go along the back of your skull may be pinched by your upper cervical spine and suboccipital area. Correcting your posture may be a viable therapy option. Examples of postural corrections:
- When sitting, use a lumbar roll.
- To find an ideal posture, perform the slouch-overcorrect exercise.
- When sleeping, choose a supportive neck pillow.
Your physical therapist may also use kinesiology taping to assist you in improving your overall postural awareness. The tape could help you become more tactilely aware of your back and neck position.
Heat Or Ice Therapy
To relieve discomfort or inflammation, use heat or ice to your neck and head. Heat can assist in relaxing stiff muscles and promote local circulation, so it’s a good idea to do it right before you do your neck exercises.
Massage
Your physical therapist may give massages to help enhance mobility if tight muscles limit your neck motion and generate headache pain. The suboccipital release is a technique that loosens the muscles that connect your skull to your neck, allowing for increased motion and reduced nerve irritation.
Vestibular Therapy
You may benefit from vestibular therapy if you are suffering vertigo or dizziness due to your cervicogenic migraines. This type of therapy entails practising specific neck, head, and gaze stabilization exercises in order to improve the way your vestibular system works.
Electrical Stimulation
Your physical therapist may use electrical stimulation on your neck muscles to relieve pain and improve headache symptoms, such as Transcutaneous Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (TENS).
For your cervicogenic headaches, your physical therapist may utilize one or several therapies. Make sure you work closely with your physical therapist to determine which treatments are best for you and how effective each one is at treating your headaches.
Physical Therapy Sessions
When you go to your physical therapist for migraine headaches treatment, Fort Collins, CA, for the first time, they will interview you and collect a detailed history of your condition. You’ll be asked about the onset of your pain, symptom behaviour, drugs you’ve tried, and diagnostic studies you’ve had done.
Your physical therapist will also inquire about any previous pain treatments you’ve taken, as well as your medical and surgical background. The following items may be included in the physical therapy evaluation:
- Your neck and skull should be palpated.
- Neck range of motion measurements
- Measurements of strength
- Examining your posture
Following the evaluation, your physical therapist will work with you to design a treatment plan and rehabilitation goals for your headaches. After that, treatment can begin. Cervicogenic headaches can be treated with several different methods. Before beginning any treatment for your cervicogenic headaches, consult a healthcare expert.
Final Thoughts!
Migraine headaches can produce pain, restricted movement, and perplexing sensations like dizziness or nausea. Working with a physical therapist to determine the best treatments for your individual illness may be beneficial. You’ll be able to acquire pain relief fast and safely and return to your prior level of activity.
