Headaches can range from occasional discomfort to recurring pain that interferes with work, sleep, concentration, and everyday activities. While headaches can have many different causes, some are associated with muscle tension, stress, poor posture, or problems involving the joints, muscles, discs, and nerves of the neck. Chiropractic care can help identify factors that may be contributing to recurring headaches and provide conservative treatment designed to reduce discomfort and improve function.
Common Types of Headaches
Different types of headaches can produce different symptoms and may require different approaches to care. Some of the headaches commonly addressed with chiropractic and complementary therapies include:
Tension Headaches
Often associated with prolonged muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, or head.
Cervicogenic Headaches
Headaches that originate from problems involving the joints, discs, muscles, or nerves of the neck.
Migraines
Often characterized by throbbing pain, frequently on one side of the head, and may be accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, or visual disturbances.
Sinus or Allergy Headaches
Headaches associated with sinus pressure, congestion, or seasonal and environmental allergies.
Because neck pain and headaches can sometimes occur together, identifying the source of your symptoms is an important part of developing an appropriate treatment plan.
Chiropractic Care for Headaches
Chiropractic care for headaches focuses on addressing musculoskeletal problems that may be contributing to pain. Depending on the type and cause of your headaches, treatment may include chiropractic adjustments, myofascial or trigger point therapy, therapeutic exercises, massage therapy, or acupuncture.
For headaches originating from the neck, improving joint movement and addressing muscle tension may help relieve discomfort. Therapeutic exercises can also strengthen and stabilize the muscles supporting the neck. For patients experiencing migraines or tension headaches, treatment may incorporate relaxation techniques, stress management, and lifestyle recommendations to help reduce headache frequency or severity.
Find Relief From Recurring Headaches
Frequent headaches do not have to continually interfere with your daily routine. If you are experiencing recurring headaches or migraines, schedule an evaluation with our chiropractic team. We can help determine factors that may be contributing to your symptoms and develop a personalized, conservative approach to help you feel and function better.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common types of headaches?
The types we most often see are tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, migraines, and sinus or allergy headaches. Each produces different symptoms and may need a different approach.
What is a tension headache?
A tension headache is often associated with prolonged muscle tension in the neck, shoulders or head.
How is a migraine different from a headache?
Migraines are often characterised by throbbing pain, frequently on one side of the head. They may also come with nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, or visual disturbances, which sets them apart from other headache types.
Can neck problems cause headaches?
Yes. Cervicogenic headaches originate from problems involving the joints, discs, muscles or nerves of the neck. Because neck pain and headaches often occur together, identifying the source of your symptoms is an important part of planning treatment.
Can chiropractic care help with headaches?
Chiropractic care for headaches focuses on addressing musculoskeletal problems that may be contributing to the pain. Depending on the type and cause, treatment may include adjustments, myofascial or trigger point therapy, therapeutic exercises, massage therapy or acupuncture.
Can stress cause headaches?
Stress is one of the recognised contributing factors. For patients with migraines or tension headaches, treatment may include relaxation techniques, stress management and lifestyle recommendations to help reduce how often headaches occur and how severe they are.
