Headaches are one of the most common complaints that I see in clinical practice. Many people suffer from them numerous times throughout the week and they are often debilitating. Whilst there are a variety of different types and causes of headaches, many have a strong musculoskeletal link, so Osteopathy can be a good place to start treatment.
Headaches are often caused by tension or dysfunction in surrounding structures, such as the jaw (TMJ), neck, upper back or shoulders.
Common types of headaches that I see in practice are:
- Cervicogenic headache – headaches that originate from dysfunction in the neck
- Tension type headache – usually linked to stress, poor posture or muscular tension
- Migraines – a complex type of headache that may be influenced by musculoskeletal dysfunction
- TMJ related headaches – associated with clenching of grinding the jaw, quite often at night
Osteopathic Treatment
Techniques that Osteopaths use to treat headaches may include joint mobilisation of the neck, shoulders, upper back to improve overall function, soft tissue techniques to reduce stress and tension in surrounding tissues, to improve function of the TMJ and cranial osteopathy.
We will also discuss adaptions to daily life that may help reduce factors that predispose you to headaches, such as desk set up, stress management and levels of exercise.
Whilst osteopathy can be helpful for headaches, it is important to recognise ‘red flag’ symptoms and speak to your GP if your headaches are:
- Sudden and severe (thunderclap headache)
- Associated with fever/unexplained weight loss/recent head trauma
- Progressively worsening without reason
- Accompanied by neurological symptoms such as weakness/numbness/visual loss
If headaches are affecting your quality of life, then please do book an appointment to see how Osteopathy can help you.
