HEADACHES

Osteopathy: an effective approach to headache treatment.

 

The most common type of headache originates from muscle stiffness or joint strain in the neck and upper thoracic region. Other causes include:

• Eye strain

• Sinus congestion

• Whiplash injury

• Stress

• Poor posture

• Jaw imbalance and teeth grinding

• Infection

• Allergies and food intolerances.

 

Your osteopath can help to:

• Improve your general mobility

• Improve the mobility of your ribs and thoracic and cervical spine

• Reduce muscular tension, nerve compression and inflammation

• Improve blood supply and drainage to and from the head and neck

• Advise on posture, exercise and stretching to help prevent a recurrence of symptoms

• Offer guidance on diet and hydration

• Advise on improving the ergonomics of your home or workplace.

• Some people may worry that their headache has a serious underlying cause, but for the vast majority of headaches there isn’t a serious cause.
   

Osteopaths, as primary health care practitioners, are trained to differentiate between headaches with common causes and those due to serious pathology. You should always seek advice if your headache is getting worse or if you get a headache after a head trauma.

 

You should also seek professional advice if the headache is accompanied by:

• Fever

• Nausea or vomiting

• Bleeding or fluid draining from the nose or ears

• Dizziness

• Blurred vision or speech

• Numbness, tingling or paralysis.

If you get regular headaches, try keeping a headache diary

 

If you experience headaches regularly, keeping a headache diary can help identify these triggers and ultimately help them avoid them. A headache diary allows you to record important details about your headaches, such as symptoms, frequency and other. This diary will provide your osteopath with important information.

 

Symptoms

• Eye strain

• Sinus congestion

• Whiplash injury

• Stress

• Poor posture

• Jaw imbalance and teeth grinding