Med1Care Therapy Partner’s physical therapists specialize in the treatment of tension headaches. Headache pain can encompass the entire head, center on one side of the head or hover behind the eyes or on top of the forehead.
Common symptoms can include pulsating pain that is either dull and continuous or pain that is stabbing and sharp. Headache severity is indicated by the ability to function while it persists. Can you go to work? Can you sleep through the night?
Reasons for Headaches
Tension headaches may be the result of stress, back issues, posture problems or poor lifestyle choices. Unfortunately, the overuse of non-prescription pain relief can also cause headaches.
If you are caught in a stressful situation, consider planning ahead or removing items from your schedule. To correct your posture, hold back your shoulders and keep your head level. Pull in the buttocks and stomach. If sitting, keep thighs parallel to the ground.
If your headache is not due to stress, postureor lifestyle issues, it may have a more significant neurological cause that could be determined at your doctor’s office using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT). Read more about headaches here.
How We Can Help
If you are suffering from a chronic condition or the recent onset of headaches, using techniques in physical therapy for headaches, our therapists can help you reduce your back pain, improve your posture and regain your quality of life.
Med1Care Therapy Partner’s experienced therapists are trained in treating back issues and posture problems that cause headaches. Our treatment plans will include a physical exam that attempts to determine the cause of your headaches based on their pain characteristics, pain intensity and pain location. We will partner with your physician to help you build a road to recovery.
Call us at 419.866.0555 to schedule a consultation, particularly if your symptoms have persisted beyond a few days. Our specialists will help you chart a course forward.
Some headaches may resolve with rest. Others will resolve with ice or heat, such as a hot shower, a heating pad, a hot-water bottle or a warm compress.
Stress management is an important tool for decreasing headaches. Give yourself time to relax and recover. People who suffer from headaches sometimes report benefits from relaxation therapies and alternative medicine, such as acupuncture, massage and breath work.
Chronic pain can be debilitating. It’s normal for people with chronic pain to experience an increase in anxiety and depression that may impact interpersonal relationships.
If you are living with chronic pain, consider joining a support group or talking to a counselor or therapist. These avenues are good sources of information and emotional support.
Tension headaches are reduced with healthy lifestyle choices, including the regular intake of nutritious food, regular exercise, consistent sleep, less than four cups of coffee per day, and the avoidance of nicotine.