Everyone has experienced a headache at some point in their life, but for some, headaches are a regular occurrence that can make daily life painful and uncomfortable. Headaches can be caused by a number of different contributing factors, so what works for some people may not work for others, which is why physical therapy is oftentimes a great way to help you overcome chronic headaches. Below, we explain how physical therapy can treat many of the most common causes of chronic headaches.
Treating Chronic Headaches With PT
Physical therapy is oftentimes a great way to help patients overcome chronic headaches because a PT can evaluate your underlying contributing factors and tailor a treatment routine to your specific needs. Here’s a look at why PT can be the perfect solution for chronic headaches based on their underlying cause.
- Muscle Tension – Chronic headaches can be caused by a buildup of muscle tension in your head or neck region. Your physical therapist can develop a stretching and strength training routine to relieve muscle tension that is contributing to your headaches.
- Poor Posture – Similarly, poor posture habits could be putting excessive strain on your head and neck, and that could be causing problems for muscles and other structures in the area. Poor posture can also create an abundance of muscle tension, but a physical therapist can help correct your posture and relieve this tension. They can also give you the tools to identify posture problems when you’re going through the day so that you can make corrections on your own.
- Inner Ear Problems – Sometimes headaches are caused by an issue with your inner ear, but physical manipulation and stretching exercises can help to correct this issue through a vestibular rehabilitation program.
- Stress – Physical stress in the form of muscle tension isn’t the only type of stress that can lead to headache onset. Emotional and psychological stress can also lead to physical problems like headaches. We can help you find healthy outlets for your stress and work to reduce stress on a long-term basis to keep headaches at bay.
- Lack Of Exercise – Your headaches could also be caused in part by your sedentary lifestyle, so becoming more physically active can do wonders for your chronic headaches. Activity can not only help to naturally relieve muscle tension, but it can also improve circulation, which pushes healthy blood to key structures to ensure they work properly, reducing headache likelihood.
- Expand Range Of Motion – Sometimes flexibility restrictions in muscle groups and soft tissues in the neck area can lead to muscle tension or spasms that contribute to headaches. Your physical therapist can slowly help to expand your neck flexibility to prevent headaches caused by limited neck mobility.
Not only can a physical therapist treat your headaches in a number of different ways, they are also skilled at figuring out the root cause of your headaches so that you can eventually find the right treatment. Don’t keep trying options that won’t work because you’re not treating the right underlying cause. Sync up with a physical therapist and know that you’re attacking your headaches in the right way.
For more information, or for help with your chronic headaches, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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