How Chiropractic Can Assist Headaches

There are many different varieties of headaches that have been classified by the International Headache Society.1 For the purposes of this article, we will briefly discuss the most common primary types, which are Tension Type headaches and Migraine headaches. Note that there are several other secondary types relating to neurological conditions etc, but they are far less common.

Migraine headaches are only one symptom of the neurological syndrome called “Migraine”. This syndrome classically also features things like nausea and increased sensitivity to light and sound.2,3,4 Hence any severe headache isn’t necessarily a migraine headache. Migraine headaches are often pulsating in nature, because the blood vessels in the brain expand and become aggravated by the beating of the heart.5

Tension type headaches are by far the most common type of headache. They represent approximately 90% of all headaches.6 The pain associated with these headaches is related to muscle tension around the head and neck. This tension can be caused by stress, sleep deprivation and poor posture.7 As more and more people spend longer hours sitting at computers at work and at home, all three of these causes build up over time to contribute to the tension type headache symptoms.

Medical treatment for tension type headaches consists of over the counter analgesic (pain killing) medications. While this may temporarily alleviate headache symptoms, the muscle tension itself can not be corrected in this way. Studies into the effectiveness of muscle relaxants and antidepressants for tension type headaches have produced very poor results.8

Chiropractic care provides a solution for headache sufferers by improving the structural alignment and movement of spinal joints (usually in the neck) which allows the brain to restore normal muscle tone to the muscles around the head and neck.9,10 Soft tissue therapeutic techniques can also be applied directly to tight muscles to help them return to a normal resting state.

1. ^ “216.25.100.131″ (PDF). the Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society. http://216.25.100.131/ihscommon/guidelines/pdfs/ihc_II_main_no_print.pdf.

2 ^ “NINDS Migraine Information Page”. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/migraine/migraine.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-25.

3 ^ “Advances in Migraine Prophylaxis: Current State of the Art and Future Prospects” (PDF). National Headache Foundation (CME monograph). http://www.headaches.org/pdf/botoxcme.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-25.

4 ^ Gallagher RM, Cutrer FM (February 2002). “Migraine: diagnosis, management, and new treatment options”. The American Journal of Managed Care 8 (3 Suppl): S58–73. PMID 11859906. http://www.ajmc.com/pubMed.php?pii=363.

5 ^ a b c d e f g h Alexander Mauskop; Fox, Barry (2001). What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About(TM): Migraines : The Breakthrough Program That Can Help End Your Pain. New York: Warner Books. ISBN 0-446-67826-0.

6 ^ Rasmussen BK, Jensen R, Schroll M, Olesen J. Epidemiology of headache in a general population–a prevalence study. J Clin Epidemiol. 1991;44(11):1147-57.

7 ^ “Muscle Contraction Tension Headache: eMedicine Neurology”. Emedicine.com. 2008-09-18. http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic231.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-22.

8 ^ Verhagen AP, Damen L, Berger MY, Passchier J, Koes BW (April 2010). “Lack of benefit for prophylactic drugs of tension-type headache in adults: a systematic review”. Fam Pract 27 (2): 151–65. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmp089. PMID 20028727

9 ^ Biondi DM (2005). “Physical treatments for headache: a structured review”. Headache 45 (6): 738–46. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.05141.x. PMID 15953306.

10 ^ Bronfort G, Nilsson N, Haas M et al. (2004). “Non-invasive physical treatments for chronic/recurrent headache”. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (3): CD001878. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001878.pub2. PMID 15266458.