Looking for Headache Relief? Try Physical Therapy
Looking for Headache Relief? Try Physical Therapy

Looking for Headache Relief? Try Physical Therapy

Looking for Headache Relief? Try Physical Therapy

We’ve all had them, and we all hate them: headaches are an easy way to ruin your day. Headaches and migraines are widespread and can develop for several different causes. Sometimes, those causes stem from musculoskeletal issues. In those cases, physical therapy at Albanese Physical Therapy can help you find relief.

Are you struggling with persistent headaches? Have you tried everything and still aren’t sure what to do to get them under control? Give us a call. We can assess your headache, help identify triggers, and, in many cases, often pain relief through manual therapy techniques.

Not All Headaches Are the Same: Deciphering Your Symptoms

One of the reasons addressing headaches can be so difficult is that you need to determine the type of headache you have and its specific cause before you can find the right treatment. Our physical therapists can help with this process by performing a comprehensive evaluation of symptoms and potential triggers.

When you visit us, try to be as descriptive as possible about your headache. Here are some questions to keep in mind:

  • Where do you feel your pain? Is it a tight band around your head? Is it behind one eye?
  • Did the pain start in a different location (such as your neck) before moving into your head?
  • How does the pain feel? Is it throbbing? Dull?
  • What were you doing when the headache started?
  • If you get frequent headaches, what patterns have you noticed? (For example, maybe you get headaches when you skip breakfast.)
  • Are your headaches accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea or light sensitivity?

In addition to reviewing your symptoms, our PTs might ask you to perform simple movement screens to evaluate your posture or to test the range of motion in your neck. We’ll also ask about any injuries you have suffered to your head, neck, or jaw.

All this information helps us better identify your headache and your options for treating it.

Questions for Rich

What should I wear to my physical therapy appointment?

Come to your appointment prepared to move. We strongly suggest wearing loose, comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely and provides easy access to your problem areas (i.e., your knee or shoulder). Athletic shoes are the most appropriate footwear.

What We Can Do to Help You Find Lasting Headache Relief

Physical therapy is an excellent choice for addressing a specific type of headache: cervicogenic headaches.

Cervicogenic headaches develop due to issues in the neck. They’re a type of referred pain in which the problem in your neck causes pain in your head, usually radiating up the back of your head to the area around your temple, eye, and ear. 

Different things can cause cervicogenic headaches, including poor posture, neck injuries, or degenerative conditions in the cervical spine. 

If we determine you’re suffering from a cervicogenic headache, we’ll develop a customized plan to manage your headache pain and address the underlying cause. Techniques we might use include the following:

  • Manual therapy techniques to mobilize the neck joint and manipulate the neck’s soft tissue
  • Stretches to relieve tension and improve mobility in the neck and shoulders
  • Strengthening exercises for your neck, upper back, and shoulders to provide additional support and stability
  • Postural corrections to keep your entire spine in alignment
Request Appointment

Exercise of the Month

Cervical Retraction and Extension With Towel

Start by standing up straight. Wrap a towel around the back of your head and hold the ends with both hands in front of you. Tuck your chin, pushing your head back into the towel and then raise your chin up towards the ceiling against the towel. Return to start. Repeat 3 sets, 10 reps each.

What About Other Types of Headaches?

Of course, we may discover you’re suffering from another headache type. In these cases, we may not be able to resolve the underlying cause of your headache (if there is one), but we can help you understand your headache better.

For example, many headaches have specific triggers. Migraines are notorious for this; people can develop migraines due to changes in their sleep schedule, eating certain foods, smelling certain scents, and more. Thanks to our comprehensive assessment, our PTs can help you better identify potential triggers and, if necessary, refer you to another specialist for treatment.

We might also be able to help with acute pain relief. Myofascial release and trigger point therapy are two manual therapy techniques that involve working out restrictions in your myofascia, a band of connective tissue that wraps around your muscles. There’s some evidence that myofascial release can help manage pain from migraines or tension-type headaches (another common headache type).  

So, while these techniques might not resolve your pain, they offer a drug-free alternative to pain management.

Request Appointment

Get Started with Headache Relief Today

If your headache has you at your wits’ end, schedule an appointment with Albanese Physical Therapy. We’ll review your symptoms, help you better understand the potential cause of your headache, and help you find a treatment plan that works for you.

Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8384005, https://www.choosept.com/guide/physical-therapy-guide-headaches, https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/review_article/pdf/63337/20210930-9728-rrbw4w.pdf

Feel Better by Eating Better!

Healthy Chicken Quesadillas
  • 2 tbsp low sodium chicken broth
  • 1⁄4 cup onion, chopped
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • 1⁄4 cup bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 chili peppers, minced (to taste)
  • 3 plum tomatoes, chopped
  • 8 flour tortillas
  • 1 cup low-fat cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 1⁄2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
  • scallion, cut on the bias (garnish)
  • salsa (garnish)
  • nonfat sour cream (garnish)

In a medium-heavy skillet, saute the onions, garlic and peppers until soft in the 2 tablespoons chicken broth. Add the chili peppers and tomatoes and simmer for a few minutes more until the liquid has evaporated. Add the chicken and stir well to combine. Spray a cold skillet with the nonstick spray and heat over medium heat. Place a tortilla in the pan and sprinkle with 1/8 cup cheese. Add about a quarter of the chicken mixture and top with another 1/8 cup cheese. Cover with another tortilla and cook for two to three minutes or until golden brown. Flip the quesadilla over and cook for an additional two minutes. Remove from the heat and cut into edges. Keep warm while frying the remaining quesadillas. Serve with salsa, scallions, and fat-free sour cream.