Headaches and Migraines

Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms?

• Headache
• Neck ache
• Dizziness
• Scalp tenderness
• Pressure in the forehead, temples, or skull base
• Neck tightness or tension
• Visual changes
• Sensitivity to light or sound

In our busy and stressful society, headaches are often accepted as part of daily life. However, did you know that there are nearly 200 different types of headaches? While there are many over-the-counter (OTC) medications available to help manage some symptoms of headaches, these options typically provide only temporary relief and rarely address the underlying causes.

Chiropractic care can play a vital role in assessing, diagnosing, and managing the root causes of headaches and migraines.

Approximately 75% of all “innocent” headaches (those without an underlying medical or life-threatening cause) have a cervicogenic component. This means that headaches are frequently associated with pain originating from the cervical (neck) joints, as well as the soft tissues of the head, neck, shoulders, and upper thoracic spinal nerve roots.

Some common types of headaches that present to Chiropractors include:

• Tension-Type Headaches: More common in women, these headaches present with mild to moderate, diffuse pain on both sides of the head and sometimes into the neck and shoulders. They can last from days to weeks and may occur as frequently as 30 times a month.
• Cervicogenic Headaches: Affecting both genders equally, these headaches originate in the neck and radiate to the head, typically on one side. The pain is often described as moderate to severe, chronic, and episodic, triggered by neck movement and posture. Patients may also experience limited range of motion (ROM) and pressure in the upper neck (C0 – C3).
• Migraine Headaches: These are more severe headaches that affect women seven times more often than men. The pain is usually localised to one side of the head, around the temple and eye, and is often described as a pulsing or throbbing sensation. Migraines can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity, and visual disturbances, lasting anywhere from 4 to 72 hours.

How Do Chiropractors Treat Headaches and Migraines?

The Cox® Certified Practitioners at Malvern Chiropractic Clinic and Melbourne Spine Clinic treat all types of headaches and migraines using the most up-to-date diagnostic tests and imaging to determine the specific cause of your condition. Chiropractic care has traditionally been successful in relieving pain and associated symptoms of headaches. Our Chiropractors use Cox® Flexion-Distraction therapy, a proven safe and effective technique that decompresses the spinal compartments and relaxes the surrounding muscles.

Below is a demonstration of Cox® Technic.

At Malvern Chiropractic Clinic and Melbourne Spine Clinic, our Chiropractors employ the latest research and clinical data to benefit our patients. Our Certified Cox® Flexion-Distraction and Spinal Decompression Chiropractors treat all spinal pain conditions with safe, gentle, non-surgical, doctor-controlled spinal decompression therapy. Cox® Flexion-Distraction is a recognised alternative to spinal surgery.

REFERENCES

(1)   Gudavalli, MR., Olding, K., Joachim, G., Cox, JM. Chiropractic Distraction Spinal Manipulation on Postsurgical Continued Low Back and Radicular Pain Patients: A Retrospective Case Series. J Chiropractic Med. 2016 Jun; 15(2): 121–128. Published online 2016 May 25. doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2016.04.004