Osteopathy For Headaches

This blog post is all about how osteopathy treatment can help manage headaches.

Headaches can come in a variety of forms. They can vary by location (where they are felt), frequency, duration, associated symptoms, intensity, triggers, and more. Did you know there are over 150 types of headaches?

“Yes I suffer from headaches, it’s just one of those things”

I hear this all the time in clinic, but this isn’t the case. Headaches aren’t just pains you have to put up with. They can be treated with far better methods than pain killers, and a lot of the time they can be fully explained too. This is where osteopathy comes in.

What To Expect From an Osteopathy Appointment

The Case History

As with every initial consultation a care history will be conducted. Here we will ask you questions such as where you feel your headaches, whether they accompany any other symptoms such as visual changes or neck pain, how long they last for and with what frequency, whether you’ve noticed any potential triggers, what can make them worse and/or better, and what help you’ve sought after in the past (if any).

The case history can provide so many answers already. Headache distribution (where you feel pain) can specify what type you suffer from. Known triggers can translate to advice on how to control them better. What relief methods you’ve tried before can inform headache management.

Examination

Next up is the physical examination. Your osteopath will perform some observations including postural cues, any left-to-right imbalances, spinal curvatures and any other notable signs obvious to the naked eye.

They would then ask for you to move certain body areas whilst they watch, an ‘active examination’. These will most likely include neck, upper back, and/or shoulders. They will ask questions about what you’re noticing, whether you feel any discomfort, or indeed any relief.

Next would be what’s called a ‘passive examination’, which is typically dictated from findings of the active examination. This is to feel for any specific joint restriction(s) and/or tight musculature.

The examination can inform us on whether there is a musculoskeletal component of your headaches. It is not uncommon for example to find a restricted neck in someone who suffers.

Treatment

The best bit of course! Any of the findings mentioned above: joint restrictions, tight musculature, poor posture setting, left-to-right imbalances, can all be treated manually. Osteopaths have a plethora of tools at their disposal to help create change. Treatment modalities can include: joint manipulations, articulations, mobilisations, dynamic stretches, METs (muscle energy techniques), soft tissue techniques, and many more.

Some patients experience relief straight away. Perhaps they can feel the tension releasing, are able to move more after treatment, or notice their headache leaving. Some experience these changes later on in the day, or even the next day.

Exercises & Advice

It is very rare that a patient of mine will leave the clinic without any homework. Depending on what is found during the examination and throughout treatment can dictate what is offered. Whether that’s exercises to work on any restrictions / weaknesses / postural factors found, or advice on how to prevent headaches / soothe them. This could include stress management, ergonomic setup, pillow choice, or even hydration and nutrition advice.

Conclusion

All in all osteopaths have so much to offer when it comes to headaches. We have the knowledge and the time to understand you and your individual situation fully.

Want to understand your headaches more? Want to be able to take control of them, and live a more pain-free life? Come and visit us in clinic now, we would be more than happy to help you.