Headaches
Tension headaches are very common in people who spend a lot of time sitting, especially those who work in front of computers. The pain often starts in the neck or base of the skull and travels around to the front of the head. Many people who report getting tension headaches say they can feel them coming on. These headaches can be the result of previous trauma to the neck, such as whiplash, or repetitive poor posture. Either way, headaches can often have a close relationship to the cervical spine (neck). This is where the term, cervicogenic headaches come from.
Common causes of headaches:
- Poor posture (head forward of shoulders)
- Prolonged sitting positions
- Dehydration
- Trauma or accidents
- Stress
- Dysfunction in the cervical spine
- Underlying disease or pathology (rare)
What is the most common cause of headaches?
As with any kind of headache, it is important to rule out underlying diseases or pathology, as there are many possible causes of headaches it is critical to know what we are dealing with. We find that the most common cause of tension headaches is mechanical in nature. Meaning the joints of the spine are not moving as freely as they are designed to causing dysfunction, and pressure on the structures of the cervical spine and skull.
How chiropractic can help people with headaches:
At University Park Chiropractic we take a holistic approach to dealing with headaches, we treat your entire body, not just where it hurts. There can be many factors in what is causing your headaches, some more serious than others, so it is essential we provide an accurate diagnosis.
Our process involves a complimentary consultation which allows us to determine if we are in fact the right people to help you. If we are not, we will be sure to refer you to the right people. If we deem that we can help you, you will move on to a paid examination.
During this examination process, we will perform a range of orthopedic, neurological, and musculoskeletal tests in order to find out what is the problem. Once we have all of this information, we will report back to you with our findings.
At this stage, you may be referred for X-rays, which are bulk billed for medicare care card holders.
From here we will create a personalized treatment plan, designed to help you recover naturally. Our treatment approach will include spinal adjustments, adjustments to the joints of the body, muscle work, plus the prescription of rehab exercises and stretches.
With headaches, we will also look at the lifestyle factors such as stress and ergonomics in order to provide you will a well-rounded treatment.
