Category: Headaches

Physical Therapy Clinic in West BloomfieldBlogHeadaches
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By manish 0 Comments Headaches, Physical Therapy

Combat Stress-Related Headaches With Physical Therapy

We’ve all done it: we get that familiar twinge of a headache and go for the Ibuprofen, Advil, or Tylenol. When it comes to stress headaches, though, a tablet isn’t always enough. A stress headache is characterized by a band of pressure around the head, as well as generalized aching and soreness.

Physical therapy treatments, on the other hand, can help you relax and straighten your posture, which will help you feel better. You’ll not only get rid of your current headache, but you’ll also have a lower chance of getting future stress headaches. Contact our office now to learn more about how our services can help you eliminate stress-related headaches.

Manual therapy: a hands-on approach to headaches:

There are a few headache prevention techniques that can be done at home. A physical therapist, on the other hand, can provide a much more specific approach to addressing headache problems. Altering between cold and heat therapy, for example, is a simple yet effective method. In addition to reducing muscle tightness, the customized compresses and soft electronic pulse wands provide relaxing comfort.

Because soft tissue mobilization relaxes stiff muscles, manual therapy often involves massage for stress-related headache treatment. Massage, as a result of this impact, can provide rapid pain relief and even help to avoid future headaches. In order to alleviate your discomfort, PT massage treatments help to relax the muscles in your jaw, temples, neck, and shoulders.

Patients with persistent tension headaches also report fewer instances of head discomfort when they receive massage therapy on a regular basis. Relaxing the muscles in and around the head aids in preventing painful contractions.

Emotional stress that causes tension in these trigger muscles can also be relieved with physical therapy massage. People who receive therapeutic massages on a regular basis report improved sleep, which leads to less stress throughout the day and, as a result, a lower risk of developing a stress-related headache.

Developing better posture:

It’s no secret that how we stand and sit has a big impact on how much pressure we exert on our muscles. Poor posture compresses muscles and nerves, and many people get a provoked tension headache as a result of these overworked muscles and nerves in the shoulder, chest, and neck area.

Your physical therapist can assess your posture and suggest areas for improvement. He or she will also show you how to move, sit, and stand properly to avoid unnecessary compression.

A physical therapist can recommend healthy lifestyle changes in addition to showing chest, back, and shoulder positions. Changes to specific areas of the home and office can have a significant impact on posture. A telephone headset, a raised computer monitor, a modified chair, or even a rubber pad to stand on while cooking or washing dishes are all examples of this.

Help your muscles get stronger:

Even when performing routine tasks, you do a lot of “heavy lifting” with your shoulders, back, and neck during the day. They can quickly become overworked if the muscles in those areas are too weak. Resistance training is used in physical therapy to strengthen the muscles in the neck and upper back.

For many people, stronger upper body muscles are linked to fewer – and less severe – stress-related headaches. Neck strengthening exercises might start with simple chin-to-chest nods and progress to more advanced exercises as your treatment progresses. Free weights and resistance bands can also be used to strengthen shoulder and back muscles.

Better flexibility:

As you go about your day, the more you can move your neck and shoulders, the less strain you place on the primary muscle groups in those areas. This could also help you get rid of some of your stress-related headache symptoms. You will learn particular techniques to extend your neck as well as loosen up your chest, shoulder muscle, and tendon groups by participating in physical therapy treatments. Regularly performing these exercises can help relieve persistent tension headaches.

Call us today for a free consultation

If you’re living with chronic headache pain, contact our office today to learn more about reducing the frequency and intensity of your chronic stress-related headaches.

We’ll schedule an assessment to look over and discuss your specific issues. Following that, one of our physical therapists will create a unique treatment plan tailored to your specific needs in order to help you relax your muscles, sleep better, and combat those painful stress headaches.

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By manish 0 Comments Headaches

Feeling Stressed? Dealing With Pain? PT Could Provide Relief with Headaches

When you see someone clutching his head at work or in a stressful circumstance, you could believe he’s either stressed out or has a headache. Indeed, you could be correct on both counts. Tension headaches can be caused by both physical and emotional stress; they can also be caused by cervicogenic and migraine headaches, all of which can render you effectively handicapped.

You may suffer from chronic or recurring headache discomfort, and you’re probably tired of taking pain killers all of the time. Perhaps it’s time to visit our physical therapist for a better solution.

Physical therapy can help you control your headache symptoms by treating the underlying reasons, resulting in a safer and more long-term solution.

How does stress contribute to headaches?

Physical and emotional stress are linked, with one capable of causing or intensifying the other. Muscles tighten as the body swings into “fight or flight” mode in response to perceived crises.

When small muscles at the base of the skull, such as the RCPM muscle in the neck, become tense, they may strain on the dura mater, a pain-sensitive membrane in the head. The dura mater responds by emitting pain waves, resulting in a characteristic tension headache.

Cervicogenic headaches also originate in the neck. These headaches are often caused by alignment problems or imbalances in the cervical spine. These imbalances place the neck muscles under physical stress, producing both headaches and neck pain. Emotional stress can also play a role in cervicogenic headaches, since the muscle tightness they create can help to pull the neck out of alignment.

Last but certainly not least, migraines are the most dreaded of headaches. In fact, a migraine attack may go far beyond the crushing headache it is notorious for producing, causing symptoms such as:

  • Visual distortions known as “auras”
  • Sound and/or light sensitivity
  • Faintness
  • Nausea and vomiting

While it’s hard to pin down the underlying causes behind migraines, many of triggers are well known – and they include stress. In addition to various foods, bright lights, loud sounds, weather changes and hormonal swings, migraines can be set off by physical overexertion or emotional strain.

How does a PT relieve headache pain?

Pain relieving drugs such as NSAIDs can relieve the occasional headache, but they can’t address the stresses that lead to chronic headache problems. For that level of relief, turn to physical therapy.

Our physical therapist will conduct a thorough evaluation that includes an examination of your neck and cervical spine, discussion of your symptoms, and analysis of lifestyle factors that may be sources of stress. This background allows us to create a headache management program largely rooted in the management of stress and its effects.

This program may include:

  • Ergonomic adjustments such as changing your computer monitor height (to prevent constant neck droop)
  • Dry needling to ease stress-induced tension and pain
  • Massage therapy to relax a chronically tight neck
  • Exercises to limber up your neck or strengthen your neck muscles
  • Mindfulness exercises such as yoga to help you add more serenity to your daily life
  • Suggestions for changing or sleep position or trying a different kind of pillow
  • Chiropractic adjustments to correct cervical spinal alignment

Common reasons for stress-related headaches

One of the main causes of stress-related headaches is right there in the name: stress. The headache generally happens when the muscles in the neck or scalp become tense and contract.

Depression and anxiety are similar emotions to stress that can also lead to headaches. In addition, there may be a physical cause behind your stress-related headaches. An accident or injury to the neck or back can contribute to headaches. Poor posture and arthritis are two other potential causes.

The diagnosis will play a role in the management of your stress-related headaches. If your headaches are the consequence of a previous injury, for example, one course of treatment that would work for correcting your posture and strengthening your neck muscles might not be appropriate.

Stretching and strength training are likely to be part of your therapy plan. Your physical therapist may also use the following options:

  • McKenzie therapies
  • Cervical traction
  • Body mobilization
  • Hot and cold compressions
  • Soft tissue mobilization

Aside from your physical therapy sessions at the clinic, your therapist will also recommend exercises, stretches and lifestyle changes that you can make at home, which will all contribute to eliminating your headaches.

Schedule a consultation with a physical therapist today

Conquer your stress, and you may just conquer your chronic headaches as well. Get in touch with our physical therapist to learn more about this drug-free approach to headache relief!

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By manish 0 Comments Chronic Pain, Headaches

Headaches can ruin your day, let alone, make it difficult to get anything done. PT can help!

Dealing with headaches around the clock is incredibly frustrating, and can quickly become debilitating. Whether they are tension headaches or more traditional migraine headaches, waking up with the pain already present in your head only to feel it grow more intense and painful as the day goes on can interfere with whatever you have planned for the day—whether that is a productive day at the office or a fun-filled day with family and friends.

Relying on medication for your migraine headaches can have drastic side effects, as well, that can cause you to feel tired, depressed, or otherwise unable to participate in the activities you love. What’s more, when you rely on medication to deal with the pain you are not actually helping your body overcome those headaches, but instead are setting yourself up for long-term dependency on those medications. Turning to physical therapy to help address the chronic pain associated with migraine and tension headaches can provide you with a healthy alternative, allowing you to break free from dependency on medications while experiencing actual relief from the regular pain of your chronic pain.

Physical therapy utilizes a series of physical, cognitive, emotional and social well-being strategies to improve quality of life with migraine and tension headaches. These strategies include:

  • Targeted massage: Your physical therapist may identify certain trigger points that could be associated with the pain of tension headaches, and targeted massage can help you to experience tension relief, and therefore headache relief.
  • Muscle training: Building strength in certain areas can help to further alleviate tension that may be built up in the neck and back, and this can help to reduce the pain of migraine headaches.
  • Exercise: Strategic exercises, especially when combined with particular attention to optimal hydration can help to reduce the severity and frequency of migraine headaches.

Plenty of people think of physical therapy as something to turn to following a severe injury or a car accident, and while there are plenty of times that physical therapy will be recommended in those situations, that is not the only use for this incredibly helpful therapy method. Physical therapy treatments are designed to help the body function optimally, and sometimes that means using the core PT strategies like exercise, muscle training and targeted massage, as well as adjustment and at times even acupuncture, to address whatever the primary cause of pain may be—including headaches.

Whether your headaches are bothering you every day, or just most days, the time to put an end to that pain is now. Chronic headaches can interfere with your ability to do just about anything, whether it is work related or a day at home with the family. Put the pain and frustration of chronic headaches in the past by working with a licensed and experienced physical therapist who can help you finally say goodbye to that head pain. The goal of physical therapy is to help you feel back to being your optimal self, free of the pain and frustrations of whatever it is that was holding you back, without a long-term dependence on pain medication.

For more information about how physical therapy may help you to overcome the chronic pain associated with your headaches, contact your physical therapy office today.

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By manish 0 Comments Headaches, Health and Wellness, Physical Therapy

Trouble With Chronic Headaches? Here’s How Physical Therapy Can Help.

Do you find yourself plagued by headaches in the morning, at noon, and at night? Have you noticed that emotional or physical stress seems to trigger your chronic headaches? If you’re nodding yes, know that you’re not alone. You’re one of the many Americans suffering from stress-related or chronic headaches. Headaches affect 47% of the global population and are described by the type and location of pain in the head.

So, what’s different about these kinds of headaches? Tension headaches have their own distinctive traits, and some of their underlying causes may surprise you. If you’re ready to stop dealing with chronic tension headaches and drugs just aren’t an option for you, there’s good news. Physical therapy may provide relief. Contact our office today or visit us in West Bloomfield Township, MI to learn more.

What are Tension or Chronic Headaches?

For some people, stress serves as a trigger for intense migraine attacks. This can cause blinding headaches and issues such as vision problems, vomiting, dizziness, and faintness. But for the majority of us, the word “headache” refers to a tension headache. The emotional and physical stresses of modern everyday life seem to go hand-in-hand with headache pain.

Tension headaches definitely live up to their name, but they don’t always occur for the reasons you might think. Tension headaches don’t actually begin in your head. They start in the muscles of the neck or shoulders. If these muscles become chronically tense and tight, they tend to go into spasm. This is bad news for the dura mater, a pain-sensitive membrane attached to certain small muscles near the base of the skull. These tense muscles pull on the dura mater, which causes it to refer pain signals up into the head, causing a tension headache to form.

Causes of Chronic Headaches

Chronic headaches are rarely as debilitating as migraines, however, they can vary widely in severity. They tend to cause a generalized ache over a broad region of the head, instead of causing localized pain to a specific area such as the eye (a symptom of a cluster headache).

If you experience emotional stress that creates chronic neck tightness, this could be the culprit behind your tension headaches. However, your headaches might also be caused by:

  • Repetitive motion or overuse from work or sports activities
  • “Text neck,” a strain disorder that occurs if you’re always leaning your head forward to look at your smartphone
  • Weak neck muscles that become fatigued easily
  • Secondary pain problems, such as arthritis in the cervical spine

It’s important to note that while headaches are usually nothing to worry about, tension headaches that bother you for more than 15 days out of the month for 3 months or more are considered a chronic pain condition, and it’s important to see a doctor about it. You may have an underlying condition that requires close attention and care.

Physical Therapy Can Help Ease Pain From Chronic Headaches

One thing that many people do when experiencing a headache is grabbed an over-the-counter pain reliever. These may reduce the symptoms of stress-related headaches for a few hours, but they do nothing about the stresses and strains that are causing those headaches day after day. Not to mention, many people find themselves becoming reliant on the short-term effects of painkillers and medication, which is another issue on its own.

If you want a longer-lasting solution, physical therapy is a good place to start! Our physical therapists will conduct a thorough examination to see whether you’re dealing with chronic headaches or another kind of headache that requires a specialist’s attention.

Physical therapy strategies for treating chronic headaches include:

  • Strengthening exercises to improve for your neck muscles, to allow them to hold the weight of your head more evenly and with less strain
  • Flexibility exercises
  • Manual therapy
  • Heat or ice therapy
  • Postural and ergonomic advice to help you get rid of any bad habits that might be causing “text neck”
  • Stress reduction measures such as yoga, lifestyle changes
  • Advice on how to reduce common stress triggers in your life so that you experience less tension headaches

Get Pain Relief Today.

We understand that tension headaches can take the fun out of everyday life as well as keep you from getting your work done and going about your daily routine. The good news is that you don’t have to keep putting things on hold until your headache passes. Take action to stop those stress-related headaches from taking over your life. Contact our office today to learn about how physical therapy can offer much-needed pain relief from chronic tension headaches. We’re here help, contact us today!

By manish 0 Comments Headaches, Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy Can Help Stress-Related Headaches

You Don’t Have To Live In Pain

Stress headaches are no joke, and sometimes, a pill just doesn’t cut it when it comes to getting rid of one. According to Choose PT, “most headaches are harmless and resolve on their own, although severe headaches that recur frequently can affect your ability to do your daily activities and can reduce your quality of life.”

Tension headaches fall into this category and involve the sensation of a “band of pressure” around your head, as well as tenderness and achy feelings. Stress headaches come from muscle tension and emotional stress. Luckily, physical therapy can provide relaxation and posture correction to alleviate symptoms associated with these kinds of headaches. Receiving therapy will not only give you relief from your current pain but also decrease the number of stress headaches you may experience in the future.

Physical Therapy Can Strengthen Your Upper Body Muscles

When it comes to keeping you supported throughout the day, your back, neck, and shoulders do a lot of the “heavy lifting.” These muscles will get overworked if they’re not strong enough. Physical therapy treatment for the neck and upper back muscles involves resistance training to build up the muscles.

For many patients, having strong upper body muscles means fewer (and less intense) stress headaches. Exercises to prevent these headaches might start with chin-to-chest nods to build up strength in your neck. Resistance bands and free weights may also be involved to build up your shoulder and back muscles. Your physical therapist will be able to do a full assessment of your abilities to find out which method works best for you.

Manual Therapy Can Bring Relief

Not all prevention techniques have to be done in your physical therapist’s office, but your physical therapist will know how to give a more targeted approach to your stress-related headache pain. Switching between hot and cold compresses is a very simple but effective strategy. These kinds of compresses can be used along with gentle electronic pulse wands to soothe muscles and ease the strain.

Manual therapy can also include targeted massage to treat your headaches. Soft tissue mobilization helps to relax tense muscles, and massage can provide immediate relief. Relaxing the muscles in and around the head can prevent the chain of events that result in painful contractions. Patients with chronic tension headaches report a dramatic decrease in overall pain after receiving manual therapy. They also experience headaches less frequently.

As an added bonus, people who get regular therapeutic massages report getting a better night’s sleep, which leads to less stress during the day. Physical therapy massage also helps ease the emotional stress that causes you to tense those muscles. Who doesn’t like getting a massage?

Your Flexibility Will Be Improved

The less pressure you put on the major muscle groups in your neck and shoulders during the day, the more you’ll be able to move those areas. This can also alleviate some of your stress headaches and make them easier to deal with. Your physical therapist can show you moves that will stretch your neck as well as loosen up your chest and shoulder muscle groups. Doing these stretches regularly helps limber you up overall and keeps your muscles from getting too tight.
Sit Up Straight!

Did you know that the ways we stand and sit can influence how much pressure we’re putting on our muscles? It’s true. Poor posture can compress the muscles and nerves in the shoulder, chest, and neck area. These are the areas that trigger painful tension headaches, so it’s important to make sure you’re checking your posture often and sitting up straight if you’re at a desk!

Your physical therapist will demonstrate to you the proper ways to move, stand, and sit. They will also be able to evaluate your posture and show you how you can improve it to place less stress on your overworked muscles.

There are many modifications a physical therapist might suggest for you to carry out at home or in your work station. Raising your computer monitor, getting a special computer chair with lumbar support, or even purchasing a rubber mat to stand on while doing dishes in your kitchen are all simple suggestions a physical therapist could make. All of these changes can have a positive effect on your posture.

What Are You Waiting For?

We all think we know exactly how to relax…until it comes to our health depending on it. Then we might need some help! So if you’re suffering from constant stress-related headaches and want to learn more about relieving the frequency and severity of your own, contact�Premier Therapy Centers to learn more. We can set up an evaluation for you to see one of our licensed physical therapists, and figure out a course of treatment to help you relax your muscles, sleep better, and get back to enjoying life without pain.

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By manish 0 Comments Headaches, Health and Wellness, Physical Therapy

Constant Stress-Related Headaches? Here’s How Physical Therapy Can Help

Sometimes, a pill just doesn’t cut it when it comes to stress headaches. This class of headache includes the classic “band of pressure” around your head, as well as generalized aching and tenderness. The kind of muscle tension and emotional stress that lead to this type of head pain can create a complex chain reaction. Physical therapy provides relaxation and posture correction. You’ll not only experience relief of your current headache, but future stress headaches may decrease. Contact us at Premier Therapy Centers to see how we can help you live a headache free life!�

Hands-On Relief

Some headache prevention techniques are simple enough to do at home. But a physical therapist can provide a more targeted approach when you’re anticipating a stress headache — or are in the grip of one. Alternating cold and heat therapy is a simple but effective strategy. These specialized compresses and gentle electronic pulse wands ease muscle strain. They also provide soothing relief.

Manual therapy also includes massage for stress headache treatment. Soft tissue mobilization relaxes tense muscles. Because of this effect, massage can provide immediate pain relief, or prevent future headaches. If you are currently having a headache, a physical therapy session eases the pain by relaxing the muscles in your jaw, temples, neck, and shoulders.

In addition, patients with chronic tension headaches report decreased incidents of head pain when undergoing regular massage therapy. It’s believed that relaxing the muscles in and around the head prevent the contractions that result in pain.

Physical therapy massage also helps ease the emotional stress that causes you to tense those muscles. In addition, people who get regular therapeutic massages report getting better rest, which leads to less stress during the day.     �

Posture Correction

The way we stand and sit can influence how much pressure is put on various muscles. Poor posture compresses muscles and nerves. For many people, these overworked muscles and nerves in the shoulder, chest and neck area trigger tension headaches.

Your physical therapist can help evaluate your posture for areas that need improvement. He or she will also demonstrate the correct way to move, sit and stand. These changes place less stress on overworked muscles.

In addition to demonstrating chest, back and shoulder positions, a physical therapist can suggest lifestyle changes. Modifications to workstations at home and at work often have a big effect on posture. They might include a telephone headset, a raised computer monitor, a specialized chair and even a rubber mat to stand on while doing kitchen tasks.

Strength Training

Your shoulders, back and neck do a lot of the “heavy lifting” when it comes to keeping you supported throughout the day. If the muscles in these areas are too weak, they get overworked. Physical therapy work on neck and upper back muscles involves resistance training to build up the muscles.

For many people, stronger upper body muscles equate to fewer — and less intense — stress headaches. Exercises might start with simple chin-to-chest nods to build neck strength. Free weights and resistance bands build up shoulder and back muscles.

Flexibility Improvement

The more that you’re able to move your neck and shoulders as you move through your day, the less pressure you put on the major muscle groups in those areas. This potentially alleviates some of your stress headaches. In physical therapy, you’ll learn moves that will stretch your neck and loosen up your chest and shoulder muscle and tendon groups. Doing these regularly may help some people with chronic stress headaches. �

Want to learn more about relieving the frequency and severity of your chronic stress headaches? Contact our office in Commerce Township MI or West Bloomfield Township MI to learn more. We’ll set up an evaluation of your specific challenges. Our physical therapist also suggests a course of treatment to help you relax muscles, sleep better and make lifestyle choices that can fight off some of those debilitating stress headaches. �