Find Relief from Headaches:
How Chiropractic Care Can Help
One of the most common health complaints worldwide, affecting people of all ages, are headaches. For some, headaches are an occasional annoyance, an unwanted disruption that may last a few hours. For others however, they’re a regular - and extremely disruptive - part of life. If you are frequently visited by headaches, then you might be interested in learning how they occur, why they may occur and ways to manage them. In this blog we break down why headaches happen, different types of headaches and how chiropractic care in particular can provide natural, effective relief.
Why Do We Get Headaches?
There are many factors that may contribute to headaches, these include:
Muscle tension & joint irritation - long hours in a sustained position - i.e. desk work - stress or strain to areas like the neck and upper back muscles, can often lead to tension headaches.
Dehydration - when you experience dehydration or lack of adequate hydration (think loss of essential electrolytes & minerals), there is a higher likelihood of a headache triggering (especially migraines) due to fluid loss to surrounding structures of the brain.
Stress & lifestyle - High stress, poor sleep/recovery and even diet are high contributing factors to headaches and headache management.
Health issues & medications - some health conditions such as sinus problems, inflammatory conditions or even medications/changes to medications can lead to the experience of a headache.
Understanding the root cause is the key to finding lasting relief, especially when headaches are a frequent disruptance to your lifestyle.
Types of Headaches
There are many types of headaches, the most common headache types include:
Tension Headaches: The most common type, which is often triggered by stress and muscular tension.
Migraines: A headache of varying intensity, often more intense than tension types and often accompanied by nausea, sensitivities to light and sound.
Cervicogenic Headaches: originates from irritation of the neck that leads to pain radiating up into the head, usually felt unilaterally.
Tension
Migraine
Cervicogenic
How Can Chiropractic Help with Headaches?
Chiropractic care utilizes a range of techniques, to help relieve headaches by addressing the root cause. Chiropractors often use a combination of:
Spinal Adjustments: Adjustments to specific areas, usually around the neck and upper back to help improve and restore joint functionality and range of motion. These adjustments also in turn help reduce tension around the muscles and nerves, which may help decrease the intensity and/or frequency of the headache, depending on the headache type.
Soft Tissue Therapy: Aiming to help decrease tension in the muscles around the neck, shoulders and upper back. Techniques that may be used and considered as soft tissue include massage, dry needling and/or cupping.
Relaxation and Stress Management Techniques: An important strategy to learn to treat and manage headaches is by addressing the root cause, for those that are prone to high stress, learning to implement relaxation techniques can help manage the frequency of headaches experienced and identify headache triggers.
Posture and Lifestyle Advice: Many headaches are related to posture and habits. By addressing factors like ergonomics and other daily habits, which may contribute to headaches, we can often implement exercises and stretches to help manage and relieve headaches.
Exercise and Rehab Programs: Exercises often targeted at helping support and strengthen posture, can greatly improve headaches experienced and reduce the likelihood of a headache trigger.
What to Expect from Chiropractic Care for Headaches
On your first visit, your chiropractor will ask about your headache history, lifestyle, posture, and any previous injuries. They’ll perform a physical exam and may assess your range of motion and muscle tension. This initial assessment helps tailor a treatment plan that’s personalized to your needs.
Most patients feel some relief after their first few sessions, and ongoing care can help reduce headache frequency and severity. Regular adjustments, combined with at-home exercises and lifestyle changes, can make a lasting difference.
Final thoughts
Headaches can be debilitating, but remember you don’t have to manage them alone. Chiropractic care offers a safe, effective, natural and drug free approach to headache relief that focuses on long-term results. Whether you are dealing with tension-type headaches, migraines or cervicogenic pain, chiropractic care can be a great approach for treatment and management by offering a personalized plan to help reduce your symptoms, identify your triggers and techniques to help manage and reduce intensity of your headaches.