This is easily a question that you might be asking yourself if you have frequent headaches. After all, having regular headaches can make it harder to do your job effectively. It can keep you from enjoying the time you spend with your family and friends, too.
However, just having headaches once or twice a month doesn’t necessarily mean that you have chronic headaches. Medical professionals are clear on what a chronic headache is; they define them as headaches that occur one 15 or more days per month for at least three months.
A physical therapist can help you learn what is causing you to have chronic headaches. In addition, these medical professionals can help you find headache treatment that’s fitted to your specific needs.
What is causing your chronic headaches?
There are a wide variety of issues that can cause you to have frequent headaches. Some of the ones that your physical therapist will be on the lookout for include:
- Neck muscle tightness — Tight neck muscles may cause pain that refers into your head, which can trigger a headache. Often, stiff neck muscles can be the result of bending over your computer or smartphone for long periods.
- Frequent pain medication usage — People who frequently take over-the-counter or prescription pain meds can develop recurring headaches. These headaches are known as medication overuse or rebound headaches.
- Caffeine overindulgence — Many Americans rely on caffeinated beverages to keep themselves alert. But overindulgence in such beverages can lead to frequent caffeine headaches. People who consume more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day are more likely to develop these headaches. This much caffeine is about four cups of coffee.
What is a physical therapist able to do for chronic headaches?
There are many ways that physical therapy can help people who experience frequent headaches. Some ways that your physical therapist will seek to help you can include:
- Reducing headache duration.
- Decreasing headache frequency.
- Cutting the pain intensity of your headaches.
Find out what physical therapy is able to do for chronic headaches at Panther PT
Are you keen to find out for yourself what physical therapy is able to do for chronic headaches? Our team at Panther Physical Therapy is primed to help you address your frequent headaches. We can determine the cause or causes of your headaches using one of our free screenings. Then, our physical therapists can create a personalized treatment plan for you that may include:
- Manual therapy
- Graston Technique®
- Therapeutic exercises
- McKenzie Method®
- At-home care
- Virtual therapy
Contact our team today for more information about how we can treat your chronic headaches or to schedule your initial appointment.