Chiropractic Care and Headaches: What you Need to Know

Chiropractic medicine addresses headaches as the result of nervous system/spinal cord dysfunction that requires re-alignment of spinal vertebrae through spinal manipulation and adjustments. While some headaches can be traced to conditions like high blood pressure, hypoglycemia, simple fatigue or even undetected brain tumors, over 95 percent of chronic headaches are relieved by chiropractic procedures that remove pressure on spinal nerves as vertebrae are gently restored to their correct positions.

Most headaches treated at King Chiropractic Hand & Foot are tension and migraine headaches.

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Tension Headaches

Tension (cervicogenic) headaches are triggered by muscle strain and tension in the neck precipitated by forcing the neck to remain in a fixed position for extended periods. Sedentary postures further exacerbate muscle tension in the upper back and neck area when specialized cervical nerve roots are strained by sustained or abnormal head and neck positioning, such as painting a ceiling or working on a computer. Pain associated with tension headaches is recognized as a steady, tight ache that feels like pressure is being placed around the head.

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Migraine Headaches

Migraines are debilitating headaches that cause throbbing, intense pain (usually on one side of the head) accompanied by nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Researchers have yet to discover the underlying causes of chronic migraines but think it may have something to do with an acute sensitivity to certain foods and environmental stimuli. Alternately, chiropractic medicine takes a more holistic approach to treating migraines by performing spinal manipulations and adjustments to repair biomechanical issues affecting the upper cervical spine while simultaneously improving nervous system functioning.

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Treatment for Migraines and Tension Headaches

An evaluation of each patients symptoms, history, and response to certain stimuli will help determine the best course of treatment for headaches.

Headache treatment approaches can include: Adjustments, soft tissue therapy, trigger point stimulation, myofascial release, spinal decompression therapy, posture correction exercises and other exercises, as well as education about job modifications.

Chiropractic care is well known to have positive outcomes in the overall reduction in headache frequency and duration without the use of drugs or surgery. Our office has had great success in helping patients who suffer from chronic headaches get their lives back.

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Give us a call at (910) 777-7228 or contact us to schedule a consultation today.