28 Mar What is your headache trying to tell you?

Simply put, headaches are the body’s way of telling you that something is too tight or there is something wrong. You will notice that you’re generally not performing at your full potential or enjoying yourself as you would normally when you’re experiencing a headache.

How often have you had a headache in the last month?

Did you take a painkiller and just keep going? Did you take the time to consider what is causing your headache and treating it differently rather letting it impact the quality of your home and work life

There are many types but the most common ones that we treat regularly are:

• Tension headaches
• Migraines

Tension headaches

A dull and persistent pain that varies in intensity and is felt on both sides of the head or neck. You might also experience restricted neck movements and tenderness of the scalp, neck and shoulder muscles. These are usually the result of poor posture, physical and mental stress.

Migraines

Intense pain that can spread to the face, neck and jaw and is usually accompanied by a range of other debilitating conditions such as light and sound sensitivity, nausea, dizziness and extreme fatigue. A migraine can last from a few hours to a few days and usually prevents you from going about doing even normal tasks like cooking or driving.

Massage – an alternative source of treatment

Utilising a range of remedial and myotherapy techniques, coupled with massage, a therapist will be able to release tight and shortened muscles, trigger points and the tissue surrounding muscles the area. There is usually an immediate relief as the treatment helps improve circulation, movement, relieve discomfort and related symptoms of the headache.

In situations where headaches are caused by a pre-existing injury, treatment could involve focusing on releasing tension and scar tissue in the impacted muscles and ligaments.

During your treatment, a therapist will put together an individualised, ongoing treatment plan that you can use to help identify headache triggers, tension patterns and treat poor posture so that you can continue to work on reducing the instances  of when a headache occurs.

If you’re experiencing a persistent headache, just need help releasing stress related tension or know someone prone to headaches, book in for an treatment today.