Headaches are among the most common head conditions that a chiropractor can care for. It is now recognized that most headaches originate with the muscles, joints and other structures in the neck and shoulders. When aggravated, they cause pain to travel to the head; the result is a headache. Research shows that chiropractic care is effective in reducing the frequency, duration and intensity of headaches.
Chiropractors can diagnose the type of headache you have and determine an appropriate management plan. Chiropractic care may include adjustments, physiotherapeutic modalities, such as ultrasound, and soft tissue therapy, such as massage. Remember that in rare cases, headaches may be a sign of something more serious, so it's important to have your headache diagnosed. Whether you've just started experiencing head pain or it's been affecting you for some time, see your chiropractor.
If you have headaches that don't just hurt your head, but also involve pain or lack of movement in your neck, you may be experiencing vertebrogenic headaches. Vertebrogenic headaches are one of two kinds of headaches that originate in the neck, the other being myogenic. (When dysfunctional or irritated vertebrae cause the pain, the headaches are vertebrogenic. When strained or irritated neck muscles cause the pain, the headaches are myogenic.)
People who experience vertebrogenic headaches generally feel a dull, constant ache on one side of their head as well as tenderness in the neck region. The pain usually begins in the neck and makes its way up behind the eyes, and possibly to the ears and the top or side of the head. The duration of these headaches varies from episode to episode and can last anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of weeks. Prolonged periods of bad posture can often make people more susceptible to these types of headaches. For this reason, secretaries, truck drivers and car mechanics, who often hold positions that cause gradual postural changes in the body, are at risk. Poor posture can create neck abnormalities, which can affect the function of the cervical spine, leading to subluxations (stuck or misaligned joints) and spinal joint dysfunction. Previous injuries to the head or neck, such as those people suffer in motor vehicle accidents, can also bring about vertebrogenic headaches. That's why it's important for people who experience trauma, like whiplash, to get appropriate chiropractic care.
In fact, to correct any spinal joint problems that can contribute to headaches, it's best to see your chiropractor. Chiropractic care is highly effective in decreasing the intensity and duration of vertebrogenic headaches. Your chiropractor can restore movement in the joints of your neck to alleviate symptoms and help prevent the condition from returning.
