Chiropractor Sydney Approach to Headaches.
Headaches are usually an extension of upper back, shoulder, and neck dysfunction. A sign to know when they are related is when your neck and shoulders are tense and painful. This is usually accompanied by headaches. If they occur separately, they may have two different reasons. Tension headaches are more common and are typically less painful than cervicogenic (one-sided) headaches.
Tension Type Headches
Tension headaches are typically described as a tight band around the temples and forehead and are generally associated with upper back & shoulder and neck tension. The important muscles that may cause pain in the temples and forehead are the trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, semispinalis capitis, and frontalis. As a general rule, chiropractic adjustments tend to be less effective for tension headaches, although they can still be of added benefit than massage alone.
Cervicgenic Headaches
Cervicogenic headaches are usually felt on one side of the head and face and associated with one-sided neck pain; the most important muscles are the levator scapula, trapezius, splenius cervicis, semispinalis capitis, and sub occipitals. Chiropractic adjustments are typically much more effective with this type of headache, and the tension is more concentrated on one side of the upper neck spinal joints. Read one-sided neck pain for more detailed information. These headaches can be quite debilitating and may lead to nausea when they get quite bad; without proper treatment, they may become a chronic problem that can really affect people’s lives, not just due to the headaches but also the associated neck pain and dysfunction.
It is usually not necessary to visit a chiropractor twice a week or regularly for months to have your neck adjusted. Address the chronic muscle tension with chiropractic treatment so the adjustments have a chance to work. Kieran regualry treats people who have been “over adjusted”, this is when the joints ligaments have been over stretched by getting adjusted regulary over several months and the muscles will tighten to create stabilty.
