Headaches are one of the most common aches a person can experience. Though most headaches can be treated by taking a nap, some type of over-the-counter pain medication, or drinking water or coffee, some headaches require a bit more before they will go away.
To be able to treat your pain effectively, it is important to know what type of headache you are suffering from. In some cases, physical therapy can be an effective treatment option for headache relief. Let’s take a look at some of the types of headaches that we can experience as well as some effective headache treatment options.
Treating tension headaches with physical therapy
Tension headaches are often described as a tightening pain that can be felt on either side of the head. The pain can range from mild to severe and last for several hours. Some patients often experience tenderness and sensitivity around the head, neck and shoulders. These headaches are also called stress headaches. Most adults will experiences tension headaches at some point or another.
A starting point when looking at these headaches is taking notes regarding how often they occur. Episodic headaches may occur every so often, and they could last up to a few hours, whereas chronic headaches occur more frequently and can continue for several days in a row over a period of months.
Treating cluster headaches with physical therapy
Patients that are suffering from cluster headaches report a piercing and burning kind of pain located behind one or both eyes. Some patients experience swelling and redness in the head. Cluster headaches are often felt every few minutes throughout the day for months. Once the headaches fade away, patients are typically symptom-free until the headaches return.
Yep, migraines too.
Migraine pain is described as an intense pulsating throbbing deep in the head. The pain can last for days. The pain from a migraine can cause a patient to experience sensitivity to light as well as nausea and vomiting. Some patients report vision changes as a symptom of the migraine pain. Genetics is also a factor to consider with migraine pain. Often migraines run in the family.
Exertion headaches may require additional treatment
Intense physical activities such as running or lifting weights can increase the blood flow to the skull and cause throbbing pain. These exertion headaches can last for several hours after the activity is over.
With so many different kinds of headaches, at Panther Physical Therapy it is our job to know which treatment option is best for you. Getting you on the path to recovery starts by creating a solid treatment plan to manage your headache pain. Below are some of the treatment options that may benefit our patients:
- Cold/ Hot Pack
- Stretching
- Improve posture
- Workstation modification
- Improve neck mobility
- Pain management
At Panther Physical Therapy, we are here to customize your headache treatment plan and help you find relief. If you are ready to schedule your consultation, please contact one of our three clinics nearest your location.
Tags: Chronic headaches, Headache Treatment, Improve neck mobility, Physical Therapist, Physical Therapy