Can Physical Therapy help headaches?

YES!!

Physical therapy can help with almost all types of headaches.

Headaches are multifactorial and can be contributed to by many factors including:

• Stress

• Sleep disturbance

• Menstration

• Food intolerances

• Genetic predisposition

• Neck and jaw pain

An analogy often used is a measuring cup with all the different factors that may cause a headache filling it to the brim.

When it overflows, a headache ensues.

If we reduce the amount in the cup even minimally we can eliminate or significantly reduce the amount and frequency of headaches. 

Muscles and joints in your neck as well as in your jaw can be a large contributor to headaches and have a significant impact on your measuring cup.

There are multiple types of headaches, most of which can be helped at least somewhat with physical therapy.  Even migraines, which we historically thought were primarily from the brain, can be markedly reduced as between 75-90% of migraines have associated neck pain as often there is a bidirectional influence.

(Do, 2018)

So what does this look like in physical therapy?

We specifically target the area that is the main contribution to the headache which typically consists of muscles, neck or jaw joints. We use a blend of dry needling, joint mobilization and manipulation of the neck and jaw as well as soft tissue mobilization to interrupt the feedback cycle of pain. After symptoms are reduced, we give specific exercises to help keep headaches away.

We can also give specific recommendations about lifestyle modifications such as exercise that can reduce headaches. In some studies (Barber 2020) these benefits were equivalent to migraine preventatives amitriptyline and topiramate. 

Please call us or make an appointment today if you or someone you love needs help with this! Headaches can be debilitating and we’re here to help.