How Chiropractic Can Assist Headaches

Headaches are very common. We have all had at least one headache within our lifetimes. They can be very complex to understand. For some, they can seemingly strike at any time.

There are many types of headaches including cervicogenic, tension-type, migraines, and cluster headaches. One of the most common types is tension-type headaches.

Most people hope that headaches will simply resolve themselves and go away on their own. The good news is there are ways to both prevent and treat frequent headaches.

What causes a headache?

Headaches can have a number of causes however, your symptoms can help your Chiropractor determine its cause and what treatment you may benefit from. Fortunately, most headaches are not caused by serious illnesses, but in some cases they may require immediate attention.

Commonly, primary headaches are due to over activity of or problems with pain-sensitive areas. Areas in the brain or surrounding your skull and neck, like nerves, joints and muscles, can play a role in your headache. For some, headaches can be triggered by certain foods and even lifestyle factors like:

#1 Lack Of Sleep

#2 Alcohol, Usually Red Wine

#3

Certain Foods, E.g Processed Meats

#4 Missed Meals

#5

Excessive Stress

Headaches can also be caused by pain referred to the head either from bony structures or soft tissues (e.g., muscles) of the neck. This type of headache is referred to as cervicogenic, meaning originating from the cervical spine and/or surrounding structures. This includes irritation and/or dysfunction of the cervical spine joints which can refer pain to the head. Treating joint dysfunction can help relieve pain and restore proper function.

How Your Chiropractor Can Help

Chiropractor’s specialise in the spine, muscle, and nervous system. They are trained to diagnose the underlying cause of your frequent headaches.

They will perform a comprehensive history and examination to determine whether the symptoms are coming from joint dysfunction of the spine or some other surrounding structures like muscles. The Chiropractor will also rule-out other possible causes and refer to appropriate medical professionals when needed for additional testing or care.

By performing a thorough history, they may also be able to determine if any lifestyles factors and habits (e.g., diet, alcohol, or stress) may be triggers for your frequent headaches.

The Chiropractor will discuss your treatment options with you and answer questions you may have. Treatment options may include spinal manipulation or mobilization, soft tissue therapy, and other modalities. Exercises may even be prescribed to help correct your posture.

Chiropractors, as part of your healthcare team, can help if you are suffering from headaches. In fact, an Australian study found that 72 percent of migraine sufferers in a clinical trial experienced either “substantial” or “noticeable” improvement after a period of chiropractic treatment.

References

1. https://www.chiropractic.ca/blog/how-chiropractic-care-can-help-frequent-headaches/

2. News Medical Life Sciences. Proof that chiropractic treatment helps migraine sufferers. May 22, 2005. https://www.news-medical.net/news/2005/05/22/10268.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2016.

3. Mayo Clinic. Headaches: Causes. May 4, 2016. https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/headache/basics/causes/sym-20050800. Accessed September 30, 2016.

4. Biondi, DM. Cervicogenic Headache: A Review of Diagnostic and Treatment Strategies. JAOA. 2005: 105; 16S-22S. https://jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2093083. Accessed September 30, 2016.

   Bigal M.E., Lipton R.B. The epidemiology, burden, and comorbidities of migraine. Neurol Clin. 2009;27:321–334. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

5. Lipton R.B., Bigal M.E., Diamond M., Freitag F., Reed M.L., Stewart W.F. Migraine prevalence, disease burden, and the need for preventive therapy. Neurology. 2007;68:343–349. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

6. Stewart W.F., Simon D., Shechter A., Lipton R.B. Population variation in migraine prevalence: a meta-analysis. J Clin Epidemiol. 1995;48:269–280. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

7. Lipton R.B., Bigal M.E. Migraine: epidemiology, impact, and risk factors for progression. Headache. 2005;45(Suppl 1):S3–S13. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

8. International classification of headache disorders. Cephalagia. 2004;24:1–160. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

9. Tuchin P.J., Pollard H., Bonello R. A randomized controlled trial of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for migraine. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2000;23:91–95. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

10. . Bronfort G., Assendelft W.J., Evans R., Haas M., Bouter L. Efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic headache: a systematic review. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2001;24:457–466. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

11. Cattley P., Tuchin P.J. Chiropractic management of migraine without aura. A case study. Australas Chiropr Osteopathy. 1999;8:85–90. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

12. Nelson C.F., Bronfort G., Evans R., Boline P., Goldsmith C., Anderson A.V. The efficacy of spinal manipulation, amitriptyline and the combination of both therapies for the prophylaxis of migraine headache. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1998;21:511–519. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

13. Parker G.B., Tupling H., Pryor D.S. A controlled trial of cervical manipulation of migraine. Aust N Z J Med. 1978;8:589–593. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

14. Tuchin P.J. A case series of migraine changes following a manipulative therapy trial. Australas Chiropr Osteopathy. 1997;6:85–91. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

15. Tuchin P.J. The efficacy of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) in the treatment of migraine. A pilot study. Australas Chiropr Osteopathy. 1997;6:41–47. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

16. Tuchin P.J. A case of chronic migraine remission after chiropractic care. J Chiropr Med. 2008;7:66–70. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

17. Wight J.S. Migraine: a statistical analysis of chiropractic treatment. Am Chiropr Assoc (ACA) J Chiropr. 1978;15:S63–S67. [Google Scholar]

18. Biondi D.M. Physical treatment for headache: a structured review. Headache. 2005:738. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

19. Fernandez-de-las-Penas C., onso Blanco C., San-Roman J., Miangolarra-Page J.C. Methodological quality of randomized controlled trials of spinal manipulation and mobilization in tension-type headache, migraine, and cervicogenic headache. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2006;36:160–169. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

20. Chaibi A., Tuchin P., Russell M.B. Manual therapies for migraine: a systematic review. J Headache Pain. 2011;12:127–133. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

21. Cooperstein R., Gleberson B.J. 1st ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 2004. Technique systems in chiropractic. [Google Scholar]

22. Cooperstein R. Gonstead chiropractic technique (GCT) J Chiropr Med. 2003;2:16–24. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

23. Alcantara J., Plaugher G., Klemp D.D., Salem C. Chiropractic care of a patient with temporomandibular disorder and atlas subluxation. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2002;25:63–70. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

24. Tong H.C., Haig A.J., Yamakawa K. The Spurling test and cervical radiculopathy. Spine (Phila Pa 1976 ) 2002;27:156–159. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

25. Plaugher G. 1993. Textbook of clinical chiropractic: a specific biomechanical approach. [Google Scholar]

26. Serrao M., Perrotta A., Bartolo M. Enhanced trigemino-cervical-spinal reflex recovery cycle in pain-free migraineurs. Headache. 2005;45:1061–1068. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

27. Willer J.C., Roby A., Le B.D. Psychophysical and electrophysiological approaches to the pain-relieving effects of heterotopic nociceptive stimuli. Brain. 1984;107(Pt 4):1095–1112. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

28. Charles A. Advances in the basic and clinical science of migraine. Ann Neurol. 2009;65:491–498. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

29. Schwedt T.J., Dodick D.W. Advanced neuroimaging of migraine. Lancet Neurol. 2009;8:560–568. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

30. Nardone R., Ausserer H., Bratti A. Trigemino-cervical reflex abnormalities in patients with migraine and cluster headache. Headache. 2008;48:578–585. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

31. Goadsby P.J., Lipton R.B., Ferrari M.D. Migraine—current understanding and treatment. N Engl J Med. 2002;346:257–270. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

32. Stodolny J., Chmielewski H. Manual therapy in the treatment of patients with cervical migraine. Man Med. 1989;4:49–51. [Google Scholar]

33. Greenman P.E., Buerger A.A. 1985. Empirical approaches to the validation of spinal manipulation. [Google Scholar]

34. Seaman D.R. 3rd ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, DRS Systems; 1995. Chiropractic and pain control. [Google Scholar]

35. Hoskins W.T., Pollard H.P., Tuchin P.J. The neurogenic pathogenesis of migraine: a commentary. Chiropractic Journal of Australia. 2006;36:69–75. [Google Scholar]

36. Pickar J.G., Wheeler J.D. Response of muscle proprioceptors to spinal manipulative-like loads in the anesthetized cat. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2001;24:2–11. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

37. Melzack R., Wall P.D. Pain mechanisms: a new theory. Science. 1965;150:971–979. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

38. https://www.chiropractic.ca/blog/how-chiropractic-care-can-help-frequent-headaches/

39. Portney L.G., Watkins M.P. 2nd ed. Alexander J, Upper Saddle River; 2000. Foundations of clinical research, applications to practice. [Google Scholar]