Some Headaches Are Caused By Neck Issues, But Physical Therapy Can Help
If you are searching for someone that can alleviate your headache pain, there’s a good chance we can help. Cervicogenic headache treatment in Visalia is provided at our physical therapy center…quite successfully. Below is some educational information about this type of headache pain.
There are Over 100 Different Kinds of Headaches – We Treat One of the Common Types
More than 100 types of headaches have been categorized by healthcare experts, but they all share in common an ability to cause serious impairment when they strike. Cervicogenic headaches are caused by a dysfunction of the neck and are one of the most common types of headaches, but various physical therapy techniques can effectively address them.
Headaches can generally be classified into two groups: primary and secondary. A primary headache simply means the headache itself is the disorder, while secondary headaches result from an injury or disorder in another area of the body. Cervicogenic headaches are one of the most prevalent secondary headaches, as they account for about 15–20% of headaches overall.
Since cervicogenic headaches occur due to a dysfunction of the neck, they are considered a form of referred pain in which the source of the pain is within the cervical—or neck—region of the spine, but the sensation of pain is felt in the head as a headache. This is because there are nerves in the upper spine that have connections with certain nerves in the head, and damage or dysfunction in one area leads to symptoms in the other.
Cervicogenic headaches frequently occur after trauma to the neck, such as after whiplash from a car accident. Poor posture and regularly straining the neck can also be contributing factors. Symptoms can occur rapidly or develop gradually, and the most common sign of a cervicogenic headache is pain on one side of the face or head, which can get worse after sudden movements of the neck, coughing, sneezing, or taking a deep breath. Other symptoms include stiff neck, pain attacks lasting for hours or days, and pain that stays in one location.
Study shows how two hands-on therapy techniques are effective for cervicogenic headaches
Physical therapy is among the most effective treatments for cervicogenic headaches, and a typical treatment program will likely consist of postural reeducation, strengthening and stretching exercises, and manual therapy. Manual therapy involves various techniques administered by the hands of the treating physical therapist, including manipulation and mobilization, which are two of the most frequently used types of manual therapy for cervicogenic headaches.
The consensus among physical therapists is that manipulation and mobilization have similar effectiveness for cervicogenic headaches, but research directly comparing these two methods is lacking. Therefore, a study was conducted in which 45 patients with cervicogenic headache were randomly assigned to undergo a single session of either manipulation or mobilization by a physical therapist. All patients were assessed for neck pain and disability, headache severity, and several other outcome measures before and after treatment.
Positive Outcomes for Both Seeking Headache Pain Relief
Results showed that both groups improved over time for all outcomes measured, and there were no significant differences between groups at each of the follow-up periods. In addition, no patients reported any adverse events during the trial. These results suggest that both manipulation and mobilization are similarly effective for patients with cervicogenic headaches, although it’s important to note that spinal manipulation is generally associated with greater risks.
If you’re at all familiar with headaches, then you know what they can do to your life when they strike. While there are still many unknowns when it comes to managing headaches, physical therapy remains an effective option that individually caters treatment based on the specific type of headache that is present.
