Headaches & Migraines
Chiropractic Headache and Migraine Treatment
Expert Treatments for Headaches and Migraines
Headaches & Migraines are among the most common of neurological complaints, affecting a significant portion of the population. In the UK, two-thirds of adult males and over 80% of females experience tension-type headaches at some point in their lives, with 1 in 20 adults living with a headache every day. Additionally, nearly 200,000 people in the UK suffer from migraines daily, significantly impacting their quality of life (World Health Organization, 2004). If you’re looking for headache and migraine treatment, the first step is understanding what’s triggering your symptoms. Many people ask, “can a chiropractor help with headaches?” — we’ll always assess first and explain whether chiropractic care is appropriate for you.
A headache is characterized by pain anywhere in the head, which can also extend into the neck, shoulders, and jaw. While many headaches are benign, others may be associated with underlying neurological or musculoskeletal conditions. There are over 200 classified types of headaches, ranging from common tension-type headaches and migraines to rarer but more severe forms, such as cluster headaches and headaches caused by structural abnormalities or infections.
What is a headache?
Headaches & Migraines are common conditions experienced by most people at some point in their lives. They are characterized by pain or pressure in the head or face, often extending to the neck and shoulders. The pain can range from mild discomfort to severe throbbing or stabbing sensations that may cause nausea and disrupt daily activities.
The head and face contain numerous pain-sensitive structures, including the skin, nerves, blood vessels, and sinuses. Muscle tension, joint dysfunction, and nerve irritation in the neck and upper back are common contributors to headaches. Poor posture, stress, or repetitive strain can lead to tight muscles and restricted joint movement, which may trigger or worsen tension-type headaches and cervicogenic headaches (those originating from the neck). This is why headache chiropractic care may help where symptoms are linked to the neck, posture, muscle tension, or joint restriction.
Common Causes :
Headaches & Migraines
- Stress: Stress can lead to increased muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and head, causing tension-type headaches. Chronic stress may also disrupt sleep and hormone levels, further contributing to headaches
- Tiredness: Fatigue reduces the body’s ability to recover from strain and maintain good posture, often leading to tension in the neck and upper back muscles, which can cause headaches.
- Bright Light: Bright or flickering lights can overstimulate the nerves in the brain, especially in people prone to migraines. This sensitivity can lead to visual disturbances and headache pain.
- Tight Neck Muscles: Poor posture, repetitive strain, or prolonged sitting can cause muscle tightness in the neck and shoulders. This tension may irritate nerves and restrict movement, triggering tension-type or cervicogenic headaches.
- Head Trauma: Injuries to the head or neck, such as whiplash or concussions, can cause lingering pain, inflammation, and misalignment in the spine, leading to chronic headaches.
- Smoking: Chemicals in cigarette smoke, such as nicotine, can constrict blood vessels and reduce oxygen delivery to the brain, increasing the risk of headaches.
- Eye Strain: Prolonged screen use, poor lighting, or uncorrected vision problems can cause strain on the muscles around the eyes and forehead, leading to tension headaches.
- Diabetes: Fluctuating blood sugar levels in people with diabetes can irritate nerves and reduce blood flow, leading to headaches. Low blood sugar, in particular, can cause a throbbing or dull ache.
- Dehydration: When the body lacks sufficient water, blood volume decreases, and the brain temporarily shrinks, pulling on pain-sensitive structures and causing headaches.
- Infection: Conditions like sinus infections, colds, or the flu can inflame tissues in the head and face, irritating nerves and causing pain, particularly around the eyes and forehead.
- High Blood Pressure: Severely elevated blood pressure can put strain on blood vessels in the head, leading to a dull, throbbing headache that is often felt on both sides of the head.
- Drugs (Prescription/Non-prescription): Some medications, including overuse of painkillers, can cause rebound headaches. Other drugs may have headaches as a side effect due to their impact on blood vessels or nerves.
Symptoms :
Headaches & Migraines
- Head Pain
Headaches and migraines can cause dull, sharp, or throbbing pain in different areas of the head. Tension headaches often create a band-like pressure around the forehead, while migraines typically cause intense, pulsating pain on one side of the head, often worsening with movement or light exposure. -
Neck Pain
Many headaches, especially cervicogenic headaches and tension-type headaches, originate from the neck. Poor posture, muscle tension, or spinal misalignment can lead to stiffness and discomfort in the neck, which may radiate into the head, triggering headaches. -
Nausea
Migraines frequently cause nausea due to their effect on the nervous system and digestive processes. Sensory sensitivities, such as strong smells, bright lights, or movement, can worsen nausea and make it difficult to function normally. -
Vomiting
In severe migraine cases, nausea can escalate to vomiting, further depleting the body of fluids and energy. Vomiting may temporarily relieve migraine pain in some individuals, but persistent episodes may require hydration and rest for recovery. -
Dizziness
Some headaches and migraines, particularly vestibular migraines, are associated with dizziness or vertigo. This symptom occurs due to changes in blood flow, nerve function, or tension in the neck, affecting balance and coordination.
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Dizziness
Some headaches and migraines, particularly vestibular migraines, are associated with dizziness or vertigo. This symptom occurs due to changes in blood flow, nerve function, or tension in the neck, affecting balance and coordination. -
Eye Pain
Headaches can cause aching or pressure behind the eyes, often linked to muscle tension, nerve irritation, or sinus congestion. Migraines may also cause visual disturbances, such as sensitivity to light, blurred vision, or aura, making it difficult to focus.
How can we help with
Headaches & Migraines?
Migraine Chiropractic and Headache Chiropractic Care:
Chiropractic care can be a supportive option for some types of headaches and migraines, particularly where symptoms are linked to the neck, posture, muscle tension, and joint restriction. Following a thorough assessment, chiropractic care may include gentle spinal and joint adjustments, soft tissue techniques, and practical advice to help reduce irritation, improve movement, and support long-term relief.
Deep Tissue / Sports Massage for Migraines & Headaches:
Deep tissue / Sports Massage can help relieve muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, which can contribute to headaches and migraines. This technique helps release tension, reduce stiffness, and promote better blood circulation in the targeted area. Sports massage isn’t only beneficial for athletes and active individuals, this massage addresses current pain but also aids in injury prevention. Beyond its physical benefits, deep tissue sports massage contributes to overall relaxation and well-being. For those seeking targeted relief and improved flexibility in the lower back, this approach proves valuable and rejuvenating.
Are you ready to tackle your
Headaches & Migraines?
Take your first step toward lasting relief and improved well-being.
Chiropractic care is one of the treatments for headaches and migraines that may help you feel your best without relying on medication. Click below to book your Initial Consultation and start your journey to a headache-free life today!
FAQ
Our Most frequent questions and answers
For some people, yes. Chiropractic care may help where headaches are linked to the neck, posture, muscle tension or joint restriction. At Cotswold Chiropractic Health Centre, we always begin with a thorough assessment to understand what may be contributing to your symptoms. If chiropractic care is appropriate for you, we will explain how treatment may help and what your care plan could involve.
Headache Chiropractic care may be helpful for certain types of headaches, particularly tension type headaches and cervicogenic headaches, which are headaches that originate from the neck. These are often linked to tight muscles, restricted joints, poor posture or irritation in the upper back and neck. During your consultation, we will assess whether your symptoms fit this pattern and whether chiropractic care may be a suitable option.
Migraine Chiropractic care may be a supportive option for some people, especially where neck tension, posture or joint restriction appear to be aggravating symptoms. However, migraines can be complex and are not always driven by musculoskeletal causes alone. That is why we take the time to assess your history, symptom pattern and any possible triggers before recommending care.
At Cotswold Chiropractic Health Centre, treatments for headaches and migraines may include Chiropractic care, gentle spinal and joint adjustments, soft tissue techniques, and practical advice to help reduce tension and improve movement. For some patients, deep tissue or sports massage may also be helpful where tight muscles in the neck, shoulders and upper back are contributing to symptoms. Your treatment plan will always be tailored to your individual needs and based on what we find during your assessment.
Headaches and migraines can have many different causes. Common contributors include stress, tiredness, dehydration, eye strain, tight neck muscles, poor posture and sensitivity to light. In some cases, symptoms may also be linked to infection, medication overuse, blood pressure issues or other underlying health concerns. Because there are many possible causes, the first step is always understanding what may be triggering your symptoms.
You should seek help if your headaches are becoming more frequent, more severe, interfering with daily life, or coming with symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, neck pain or visual disturbance. It is also important to seek prompt medical advice if a headache feels sudden, unusual or significantly different from what you normally experience. Our role is to assess whether your symptoms appear musculoskeletal in nature and whether chiropractic care is appropriate, while also helping guide you if further medical investigation is needed.
Your consultation begins with a discussion about your symptoms, when they started, how often they happen, and anything that seems to trigger or ease them. Your Chiropractor will then carry out an assessment, which may include looking at your posture, spinal movement, muscle tension and neck function. From there, we will explain our findings clearly and talk you through the most appropriate next steps for your care.
Not always. In many cases, headache and migraine treatment also needs to consider the neck, shoulders, posture and upper back. This is especially important where symptoms may be linked to muscle tension, restricted movement or irritation coming from the neck. By looking at the wider picture, we can better understand what may be contributing to your symptoms and recommend care that is more specific to you.
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Location
Cotswold Chiropractic Health Centre
The Barnyard, Farncombe Estate
Broadway, WR12 7LJ
Our hours
09:30 AM – 06:00 PM
Monday – Friday
Contact us
Phone: 01386 571100
Email: info@cotswoldchiropractors.co.uk