Can a Chiropractor Help Treat Headaches

Chiropractic Treatment of Migraine Headaches

Certain chiropractic techniques are thought to help ease chronic headaches and migraines. This is especially true with migraines in which neck pain and other musculoskeletal problems are reported by up to 75% of patients.

Chiropractic Treatment of Migraine Headaches

Much of the research exploring the chiropractic treatment of headaches is devoted to migraines. Some studies, in fact, suggest that around 87% of migraine sufferers report seeing a chiropractor to treat headache pain.

A migraine is a neurological condition characterized by recurrent severe headaches, usually on one side of the head. An attack is often accompanied by symptoms like nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, and increased sensitivity to sound and light.

Another symptom less commonly reported is neck pain, which some experts suggest occurs far more frequently than even nausea.

Treatment Options

According to a 2019 study in Global Advances in Health and Medicine, around 75% of people with migraine report neck pain, stiffness, and tension, often preceding the actual headache.

While it is unclear how neck pain and migraines are connected, some treatment centers (like the Osher Clinical Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston) have begun to integrate chiropractic care into their treatment model to address musculoskeletal issues related to migraines.

Some of the chiropractic treatments that have proved useful for this include:

• Soft tissue release: A manual technique using stretching and deep pressure to break up rigid muscle tissues, relax muscle tension, and move fluids trapped in the tissues
• Myofascial release: A type of gentle massage, also known as trigger point therapy, that releases tightness and pain in myofascial tissues (connective tissues that cover and support muscles)
• Spinal manipulation therapy: Also known as an "adjustment," it involves the application of forceful thrusts to spinal joints to improve movement or function
• Spinal mobilization: A technique similar to spinal manipulation that doesn’t involve thrusts but instead uses controlled movements performed within a joint’s natural range of motion

Cervicogenic Headaches

Cervicogenic headaches stem from an underlying neck problem and are often triggered by an injury to the cervical spine of the neck. The headaches typically start with one-sided pain at the back of the head that gradually moves to the front, often with same-sided shoulder or arm pain.

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache associated with stress and muscle tension in the neck, head, or scalp. Tension headaches cause dull, non-throbbing pain that can feel like a vise around your head or cause all-over head pain worsening at the scalp, temples, or back of the neck.

Possible Risks

While chiropractic techniques like spinal manipulation are being increasingly embraced for the treatment of certain headaches, the American Medical Association does not endorse the practice overall and has fought legislation expanding Medicare coverage for chiropractic treatments.

The concern is mainly centered around the potential harm caused by spinal manipulations.

Conclusion

Chiropractic treatments like spinal manipulation are increasingly being explored for the treatment of migraines and cervicogenic headaches. While some studies suggest that spinal manipulation can reduce the frequency and/or severity of headache episodes, the procedure poses certain risks and should only be performed by a licensed chiropractor.

FAQs

Q: How often do you need a chiropractor for headaches?
A: The frequency of chiropractor treatments varies largely by the severity of your headaches.

Q: Is chiropractic treatment effective for tension headaches?
A: Chiropractic treatment has not proven to be useful in managing tension headaches.

Q: Are there any risks associated with chiropractic treatment?
A: While the risk of injury is low if performed by a duly licensed chiropractor, spinal adjustments can or rare occasions lead to complications such as vertebral artery dissection, stroke, or spinal cord injury.