Headaches are a very common ailment. Most people can claim that they have had at least one headache in the past. For some unfortunately, headaches are a daily occurrence. There are over 50 different types of headaches. A chiropractor can have an effect on several of these types of headaches. Today though, I will focus on one type of headache that is very common in a chiropractic clinic, that is a cervicogenic headache.
Cervicogenic headaches result from a problem in the neck that causes referred pain to the head. Because it is caused by something other than the head, a cervicogenic headache is considered a secondary headache. Often, it is accompanied by reduced neck range of motion, stiffness in the muscles of the neck and pain that increases with any neck motion. Cervicogenic headaches are different from tension headaches, in that the primary source of the referred “head pain” comes from the joints of the neck, rather than the muscle. A distinguishing feature of a cervicogenic headache is that of increased pain with neck movement. Tension headaches do not seem to be altered by neck movement.
On presenting to a chiropractic clinic, the cervicogenic headache patient will be very tender to palpation over the joints of the neck and there will be obvious reductions in motion. Manipulation of the joints of the neck is an optimal treatment for these patients as long as a detailed history and physical exam are performed and manipulation has been deemed suitable for the patient. Manipulation is considered safe and effective for increasing range of motion immediately. However, for some patients, their medical history may prevent this form of treatment. When this is the case, soft tissue techniques and exercise can be utilized to improve range of motion.
At home interventions can be used to make further improvements. Self treatment like ice or heat, exercises, relaxation techniques, adequate food intake or changing food choices and sufficient sleep can all improve symptoms further.
An exercise I like to give to patients are Cervical Bobbleheads from the FMS exercise library. This exercise focuses on keeping the body stationary while only moving the neck in multiple directions. Using a band assists the body to maintain stability. Try a few repetitions of this exercise to help relax the muscles in your neck and increase mobility.
If you are suffering from neck pain with or without headaches, please contact our office by phone, 905-529-2911, email: info@mmdchiropractic.ca or book online at mmdchiropractic.ca. Stop the suffering and let us address the issue.