Headaches and Migraines
Research shows that a staggering 95% will suffer some form of headaches in their lifetime. They can effect children and adults and in some cases can be debilitating or extremely painful.
For some headaches are a regular occurrence and having daily headaches are not uncommon. In the UK it is estimated that 25 million working days are lost due to migraine symptoms. The world health organisation have put headaches in the top ten causes of disability.
Causes of headaches
Primary headaches account for 95% of all headaches and can be categorised as tension, migraine or cluster headaches.
The remaining 5% are caused by physical problems some of these may include food intolerances, blood sugar changes, sensitivity to noises or light, insomnia etc.
The main cause of primary headaches is related to muscle tension and joint irritation in the neck. This can be caused through injury in sport or work however, the most common cause of tension in the neck is related to poor posture.
For many people being in a fixed position for long periods of time for example sitting at a computer or spending long periods driving can contribute to poor posture.
Can a Chiropractor treat headaches?
Primary headaches can be treated effectively through chiropractic care. Research shows that a combination of spinal manipulation and exercises can have a positive effect in the treatment of headaches.
Our chiropractors will carry out extensive tests before any treatment to determine what is triggering your headaches. As with many joint or muscle problems a chiropractic adjustment will form the basis of most treatments. Deep tissue massage and stretching techniques may also be used to compliment adjustments. Again research shows that these techniques have shown to have a positive effect in the treatment of headaches.
Our chiropractors will provide you with stretching exercises and useful tips and advice to prevent headaches recurring in the future.
For an example of a chiropractic adjustment of the neck check out our video below.