Headaches

Most of us will suffer with a headache at sometime, and 50% of us will suffer at least one significant headache a year. Whilst many headaches can be treated simply with hydration, rest and over the counter medication, others require further intervention. Osteopathy is a very effective treatment for certain types of headache. A systematic review of research papers on the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment for headache and migraine published in the journal of pain research in March 2017, showed evidence that osteopathy could reduce the incidences of headaches and migraines and reduce the levels of pain experienced.

Types of headaches. Whilst there are over 200 varieties of headaches identified, 90% fall into 3 categories:

1. Tension headaches
   • By far the most common headache, affecting 60-80% of population. Headaches associated with mental stress, muscle tension and poor posture and fatigue. Felt as tension and tightening on both sides of head.
2. Migraines
   • These are the next most common cause of headaches. They often affect one side of the head. They may cause sensitivity to light or sound, and may cause nausea and even vomiting or abdominal pain in extreme cases. There can be many cause for migraine, and often the cause is multiple factors working together. Triggers can be hormonal, dietary, stress-related and mechanical. Mechanical dysfunction in the upper neck can often be a trigger and is very treatable with osteopathy.
3. Cervicogenic headaches
   • This is where pain is referred from a particular site of injury in the neck. It may be felt on one side and may be felt in a very particular point, behind or around the eye or the base of the skull. This is a secondary headache caused by a primary structural problem. You may also experience reduced neck movement.

How we treat headaches

There is a common thread to many headaches. Whilst the pain is experienced in the sufferer’s head, the cause is often a biomechanical issue somewhere else in the body. The underlying issue may be the result of sudden trauma, or caused by a build up of poor posture, which may itself be caused by a variety of prior factors.

We treat using palpation, manipulation, stretching and massage to increase the mobility of joints, and relax muscle tension. This also enhances blood and nerve supply to tissues, helping your body’s own healing mechanisms to function optimally. Trigger point acupuncture is also used to treat contractures in the muscle and reduce pain.

Pain and stiffness in the jaw can be very debilitating. Osteopathic manipulation, trigger point needling and radial shockwave therapy can all be effective in managing TMJ dysfunction and relieving pain.