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“I have this headache that gets worse as the day progresses.”
“It starts in the back of my head and comes up over the top.”
“I missing more days at work because my headaches are coming more often.”
When most people think physical therapy and injury rehabilitation their minds go to sprained ankles, torn ACL’s, and post-operative shoulder rehab. But did you know we also specialize in treating headaches?
Totally true.
If you feel like you experience a lot of tension in your upper neck and that’s the source of many of your headache problems then there’s actually a TON that PT can do to help you out!
Today on Tone and Tighten I wanted to share with you a little more about my experiences treating headaches as a physical therapist and show you some of the best exercises you can do to hopefully alleviate some of your neck tension and headache pain.
Before we get too far into this, it’s important that we make sure we’re talking about the same issue here. Physical therapy is a great option to treat TENSION headaches; there’s very little it will do for MIGRAINE headaches. There are a couple of key differences between the two that can help you determine if the rest of this post is right for you…
TENSION headaches are often classified by:
- Chronic neck pain/tightness
- Headache pain that starts at the base of your skull and climbs up to the top of your head
- Often starts gradual and then worsens with time
- Common with desk/seated occupations
- Can be common after accident/injury (car accident, fall, etc).
MIGRAINE headaches are often classified by:
- Intense pain “deep” inside your head… often right behind your eye
- Come on hard and fast
- Normal neck “tension” without any motion restrictions noted
- Often intensified with loud noises and bright lights
If you feel your headaches fall into the TENSION variety – keep reading! There’s a lot physical therapy can do to help! If you feel they’re more of the MIGRAINE variety then these exercises may or may not be beneficial. In either case you’re encouraged to consult with your medical healthcare professional regarding best treatment options.
However, if it’s the tension headaches you’re dealing with, I’ve got quite a few ideas that have proven very effective for patients over the course of my career.
Check out this video to learn more about tension headaches – what they are, why you get them, and some of the best exercises to help you feel better!
While you watch the video make sure you subscribe to Tone and Tighten on Youtube! We share a lot of really great health and wellness tips including workouts, healthy recipes, rehab advice and more! You won’t be disappointed!
Click the image below for a FREE downloadable copy of the exercises presented in the above video to help alleviate your tension headaches!
Question or comment for Jared? I would love to hear from you! Leave me a comment below and I’m happy to answer as soon as I can.
What other injuries can I help you out with?
Make it happen,
Jared
Disclaimer: The information presented in this post is designed to be used for informational purposes only. The diagnoses and treatment plans outlined are extremely generalized and may or may not be the recommended interventions for your specific problem. If you are experiencing pain, you are encouraged to consult a healthcare provider to determine the best treatment plan that will be in your best interest individual. Tone and Tighten claims exemption from accident, injury, or perpetuation of any injury incurred while performing exercises found in this post or on this website. The user assumes all risk … and reward!!
