Headaches: What They're Telling You (and How Chiropractic Care May Help)
If you get headaches, or love someone who does, you're far from alone. Headaches are one of the most common types of pain people experience, and they can range from a dull, background ache to something that leaves you needing to lie down in a dark room.
But while headaches are common, understanding what may be contributing to them can be an important first step.
Headaches are your body's way of flagging a problem
Pain is a signal. When your brain senses something isn't quite right, or that there's a potential problem brewing, it can create the sensation of a headache to get your attention.
Sometimes that's something as simple as dehydration or too much screen time. Other times, headaches can be associated with factors such as stress, sleep, hormones, nutrition or medication use.
And in rare cases, a headache can be a warning sign of something more serious, which is why persistent, unusual or changing headaches are always worth having properly assessed.
For a lot of people, though, the story is closer to home: the neck and upper spine.
The neck-headache connection
Research suggests that the way the neck moves and how the nervous system processes information from the neck can be relevant to some types of headache.
When the joints and muscles in your neck aren't functioning optimally, some people experience this as neck pain or stiffness. For others, it may be associated with headaches.
This is often referred to as a cervicogenic headache, a headache associated with structures in the neck.
For our Braddon and Canberra patients spending long days at a desk, hunched over a laptop, or holding tension through the shoulders and neck during a stressful week, this pattern is a familiar one.
Of course, not every headache is caused by the neck. Migraine, tension-type headaches and other headache disorders can have very different contributing factors.
That's why understanding the individual presentation matters.
What does the research say about chiropractic care and headaches?
This is an area that has been studied specifically.
Research into chiropractic care and spinal manipulative therapy suggests that this type of care may help some people with certain types of headaches, particularly when headaches are associated with the neck.
One study followed 160 patients with chronic cervicogenic headaches. Participants received either eight weeks of chiropractic care or eight weeks of light massage, with the chiropractic group showing greater improvement in headache outcomes.
Other reviews have also investigated spinal manipulation for different headache presentations, including migraine and tension-type headaches.
However, the research doesn't mean that chiropractic care is suitable for everyone with headaches, or that it will produce the same result for every person.
The type of headache, the individual and the contributing factors all matter.
For us, that's why an appropriate assessment comes before deciding whether chiropractic care is a suitable option.
Our approach at Capital Chiropractic Centre
If headaches are part of your life, our approach starts with understanding what's actually going on — not simply focusing on the symptom in front of us.
Diagnose
A thorough history and examination to understand your symptoms and identify relevant factors that may be contributing to your headaches.
Inform
An open, plain-language conversation about what we find, so you can understand your options and make informed decisions about your care.
Treatment
If chiropractic care is appropriate, we'll develop a care plan based on your individual presentation, goals and preferences.
Prevention and self-management
We can also discuss practical strategies that may support your overall wellbeing, such as movement, ergonomics, exercise, sleep and other lifestyle factors relevant to your situation.
Every body is different, and headaches can have many different contributing factors.
So if you're dealing with recurring headaches, whether they started after a stressful stretch at work, ramped-up training, or you're just not sure why they keep coming back, it may be worth discussing them with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
When should you seek medical attention?
Most headaches aren't emergencies. However, some headaches require prompt medical assessment.
Seek urgent medical attention if a headache:
Comes on suddenly and reaches severe intensity very quickly
Occurs after a significant head injury
Is accompanied by weakness, facial drooping, difficulty speaking or loss of balance
Occurs with fever, a stiff neck or rash
Is significantly different from your usual headaches
Is progressively worsening or changing in pattern
If you're concerned about a new, severe or unusual headache, seek appropriate medical advice rather than trying to determine the cause yourself.
Could chiropractic care be appropriate for your headaches?
Headaches can have many different causes, so there's no single approach that works for everyone.
If you're experiencing recurring headaches alongside neck pain, stiffness or changes in neck movement, an assessment may help determine whether the neck and musculoskeletal system are relevant to your symptoms.
At Capital Chiropractic Centre in Braddon, Canberra, our chiropractors can assess your individual presentation and discuss whether chiropractic care is appropriate for you.
If another healthcare professional is better placed to help, referral may be the right next step.
Your headache may be trying to tell you something. The first step is understanding what that might be.
Book a visit with Capital Chiropractic Centre in Braddon, Canberra.
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Headaches can have many different causes. If you have a new, severe, unusual or changing headache, seek appropriate medical assessment. Whether chiropractic care is appropriate depends on your individual circumstances and should be determined following an appropriate assessment.
References
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Haavik H, Murphy B. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2012;22(5):768-76.
Treleaven J. Man Ther. 2008;13(1):2-11.
Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2011;34(5):274-89.
Bronfort G, Haas M, Evans R, et al. Chiropr Osteopat. 2010;18:3.
Millstine D, Chen CY, Bauer B. BMJ. 2017;357.
Haas M, Spegman A, Peterson D, et al. Spine J. 2010;10(2):117-28.
Source research summary: Haavik Research Ltd, 2021.