Headaches can be debilitating and negatively impact a person's daily life. Physical Therapy at OrthoRehab can be a beneficial treatment option for headaches providing relief for those suffering from headaches. There are several types of headaches, but the most common are tension headaches and migraines. Tension headaches are caused by muscle tension in the neck and head, while migraines are caused by changes in blood flow to the brain.

Poor posture, stress, lack of sleep, and muscle imbalances can contribute to muscle tension and trigger tension headaches. Similarly, migraines can be triggered by certain foods, stress, hormonal changes, and environmental factors.

How Can Physical Therapy Help Headaches?

A physical therapist can work with you to identify the underlying causes of your headaches and develop a customized treatment plan to help manage your specific symptoms.

Here are some ways Physical Therapy can help with headaches:

1. Posture Correction: Poor posture can contribute to muscle tension in the neck and head. A Physical Therapist can assess your posture and provide exercises to help you improve it, reducing the strain on your muscles.
2. Exercise Therapy: Exercise therapy can help improve strength, flexibility, and range of motion in the neck and shoulder muscles, reducing muscle tension and improving overall function.
3. Manual Therapy: Manual therapy techniques, such as massage, joint mobilization, and trigger point release, can help reduce muscle tension and improve blood flow, leading to pain relief.
4. Education: Physical Therapists can provide education on proper body mechanics, stress management techniques, and relaxation exercises to help manage headaches.
5. Dry Needling: Dry Needling is a highly effective technique that involves inserting a thin needle into trigger points in the muscle to relieve pain and tension.

Headaches can be a debilitating condition that deeply affects a person's daily life. Physical Therapy is known to be an effective treatment option for headaches. A Physical Therapist can work with you to identify the underlying causes of your headaches and develop a customized treatment plan to help manage your symptoms. If you are experiencing headaches, please give OrthoRehab a call to see how Physical Therapy can benefit you.