Affecting almost 50 percent of the population at least once annually, headache is a very common nervous system disorder. One type of headache, called tension or stress headache, is a mild to moderate pain that’s often described as feeling like a tight band around your head, which is different from migraines that are usually felt on one side or the other. Tension headaches are so prevalent that various studies were conducted to determine which remedies work to relieve the pain.
One such study was published in the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine in February 2016. The study was designed to determine whether chiropractic care provides pain relief to headache sufferers. Sixty-two women between the ages of 18 and 65 participated in the study – all of which suffered from tension-type headaches. Each was assigned to one of four groups, three of which involved a specific treatment (spinal manipulation was one of them) and one which served as a control.
The researchers discovered the individuals who received spinal manipulation “showed improvements in their physical role, bodily pain, and social functioning” at one month post-treatment, compared to the control group.
Preventing headaches
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has some suggestions for preventing headaches:
- If you spend a significant amount of time fixed in one position (e.g. in front of a computer, typing or reading) take a break every 30-60 minutes and stretch, taking your head and neck through a comfortable range of motion.
- Low-impact exercise such as walking and cycling may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches. However, if you are prone to dull, throbbing headaches, avoid heavy exercise.
- Avoid teeth clenching as this causes stress at the temporomandibular (TMJ) joints that can result in tension headaches.
- Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches.
Do you suffer from tension headaches? Chiropractic care might be the right solution for you. Call 845-342-2225 (BACK) to schedule a no charge consultation.