Four Ways Physical Therapy Can Help with Headaches

Break free of headaches with MVPT!

Physical therapy treatments are designed to help the body function at its peak. No matter how old you are or the frequency in which you have them, dealing with frequent headaches can be incredibly frustrating.  According to Stanford Health Care, some of the common types of headaches include: 

• Tension
• Cervicogenic or neck muscle-related
• Migraine
• Secondary headaches from an underlying condition, such as fever, infectious disease, or sinus disorder

Regardless of the type of headache, waking up with pain can interfere with your day no matter what is on your calendar. Furthermore, while many of us are comfortable relying on pain medication to deal with the symptoms of a migraine or headache, there are other options to get to the root cause of your pain. Our innovative care strategies at MVPT Physical Therapy will help you find quick relief.

How Can Physical Therapy Help? 

Visiting a physical therapist is an excellent alternative to traditional medication management of headaches. You can decrease the intensity, frequency, and duration of headaches with the help of MVPT. 

Four ways physical therapy can reduce headache pain include:  

1. Increasing Exercise Amount 

Studies have shown that increasing your activity levels can decrease pain and inflammation. Physical activity also improves range of motion as well as joint health and promotes overall health.  

2. Providing Education 

Physical therapists want their patients to understand the triggers that contribute to their headaches, such as poor posture, eye strain, and even sleeping in the wrong position. Recognizing these triggers can help patients prevent as many painful headaches as possible. This is the best defense against the return of headaches after having treatment.  

3. Implementing Manual Therapy 

Physical therapists provide hands-on treatments techniques designed to increase mobility of your head and neck, decrease muscle tension and spasms, and improve posture. If additional modalities are needed, such as dry needling, your physical therapist will make a recommendation to help you get the most out of your therapy sessions.  

4. Postural Correction 

Do you spend a lot of time staring at a screen or driving in a car? Do you have a forward head or rounded shoulders? If so, your upper cervical spine may be causing pinching of nerves. Therefore, one aspect of care your physical therapist may implement includes correcting your posture and addressing tight pectoral muscles or weakened upper back muscles.  

Now’s the time!

Cut through the fog of your headaches with help from our MVPT physical therapists! Your physical therapist will help get to the root cause of your pain and empower you to take control of your headaches to live a life full of motion. To schedule an appointment, contact your nearest MVPT office, fill out the form below, or click here to request an appointment. 

Tags: Neck Pain, Migraines, cervical spine, Posture