Understanding How Physical Therapy Can Help You With Migraines and Headaches

Headaches are a nuisance. While many types of headaches may resolve on their own after a few hours, several are long-lasting, painful, and disruptive. Migraines, tension, and cervicogenic headaches feel aggressive. They can make you sensitive to noise, light, and movement, and they can cause secondary symptoms like nausea.

For frequent headache sufferers, physical therapy in Norman, OK, may offer some relief. Some headaches have a musculoskeletal connection. When a PT can address the underlying muscle or nerve issue, patients can find relief.

Understanding Musculoskeletal Problems

Headaches are often the result of muscle strain and nerve damage or aggravation. Sitting too long in front of a computer with poor posture can lead to tight muscles and joints in the neck, upper back, or shoulders that can manifest as a headache. Also, cervical headaches may stem from trauma like sports injuries or whiplash.

Physical therapy for migraines focuses on relieving existing tension in the musculoskeletal system and resolving injuries. The techniques a PT uses will depend on the cause of the headaches and the location of the injury.

Neck and back injuries often cause headaches as a side effect. The injuries can pinch nerves or create stiff muscles and limbs that aggravate the nerves, resulting in headaches.

Because a physical therapist understands the musculoskeletal system and how it relates to the central nervous system, they can design a program to help relieve headaches. Depending on the type of headaches, PT may not eliminate them altogether, but the therapy can help relieve the symptoms, which can significantly improve a person’s quality of life.

A List of Accompanying Vestibular Symptoms

Migraines can affect the inner ear vestibular system. A severe headache may induce feelings of vertigo or dizziness when standing or moving around. The loss of balance or at least confidence in your balance can also lead to other symptoms, including nausea and vomiting. Other vestibular symptoms may include sensitivity to motion or motion sickness.

Vestibular symptoms are typical of vestibular migraine. Signs of such a migraine include severe throbbing on one side of the head, ringing or pressure in the ears, and sensitivity to light, noise, or smell.

Depending on the severity and frequency of vestibular migraines, a doctor may prescribe a prescription and encourage a regular sleep schedule, exercise, and stress management. Physical therapy Edmond, OK, is a form of exercise, and it can also help with stress management.

While PT is not a cure-all for migraines and headaches, it can help to relieve symptoms. To learn more about how PT may help with migraines, consult a licensed therapist. They can help you understand how PT may complement other migraine treatments.

If headaches or migraines result from musculoskeletal or soft tissue injuries, a physical therapist may help eliminate symptoms. However, headaches may stem from other issues that PT cannot completely resolve. Still, therapy can help reduce symptoms of many headache conditions. If you are a chronic headache sufferer, contact a local physical therapy clinic to discuss your symptoms and schedule an initial assessment.

*This is a collaboration post