Headaches & Migraines
Headaches and migraines are common conditions that can have a significant impact on your quality of life, affecting your ability to work, exercise, sleep and enjoy everyday activities.
While there are many possible causes and triggers, tension and restricted movement around the neck and upper back can contribute to certain types of headaches. Chiropractic care can help address these musculoskeletal factors and support better movement and overall function.
What causes headaches?
Headaches can develop for many different reasons. Common contributing factors include muscle tension, stress, poor posture, prolonged computer use, dehydration, lack of sleep and spending long periods in one position.
Tension and restricted movement in the neck and upper back can also contribute to headaches, particularly when combined with prolonged sitting, poor workstation setup or repetitive activities. Migraines can have additional triggers, including stress, changes in sleep, hormonal changes, certain foods and environmental factors.
What are the symptoms?
Headaches and migraines can feel different from person to person. Common symptoms include:
- Aching or pressure in the head
- Pain around the temples, forehead or behind the eyes
- Neck and shoulder tension
- Throbbing or pulsating pain
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Nausea
- Pain that becomes worse with activity
Treatment options
Chiropractic care can be an effective approach for managing headaches when musculoskeletal factors are contributing to your symptoms. Treatment may include spinal adjustments, manual therapy, targeted exercises and advice on posture and everyday movement.
By improving movement in the neck and upper back and reducing muscle tension, chiropractic treatment can help reduce discomfort and support better function. Your chiropractor will assess your symptoms and create a personalised treatment plan based on your individual needs.
Can chiropractic care help with headaches and migraines?
Chiropractic care can help manage some types of headaches by addressing contributing factors such as restricted neck movement, muscle tension and poor posture. Treatment is tailored to your symptoms and may help reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches for some people.
If headaches or migraines are affecting your daily life, a chiropractic assessment can help identify whether problems with your neck, upper back or movement patterns may be contributing to your symptoms, and provide a personalised approach to getting you feeling and moving better again.