Migraine and Headaches how Physiotherapy can help

In previous articles in our blog we have talked about the different types of migraine and some tips to help with them.

Article available at the following link: https://www.5starclinicltd.com/migraine/

In this article we want to talk in depth about how and where the non-drug therapy can help with migraine and headaches.

To do so we need to categorise them in few groups, a great work in regard has been done from Roland Solére.

1)Musculoskeletal Migraines/Headaches: these usually are associated with muscle tension in neck, shoulders and trapezius area(area showed in the picture) and sometimes can extend in the upper back. Also present a restriction of movement in one or more planes.

How can you get a first step to understand if there are restriction in the movement of your neck?

For example you can try to turn you neck to the Right and to the Left. Can you look on the Right as far you can to on the left and vice versa?

Can you move you neck up, down, right, left and side by side without feeling an uncomfortable tension in your neck?

Can you easily rotate and move in each direction both your shoulders in the same way?

Any question answered NO could be due to a restriction of movement or a lack of strength in you cervico-thoracic muscles.

Another cause could be a trauma, for example if you have had any Road Traffic accident or any other head/neck trauma.

Some other associate conditions may be: premenstrual syndrome low back pain, hip pain, cold feet/hands, spastic colon, bloating, dyspepsia, heart burn, bladder issues.

2)Visceral/hormonal Migraines/Headaches: which present every time during the menstruation(period) or on the ovulatory phase and is related with hormonal changes and with the pelvic blood circulation.

3)”Energetic” migraine/Headaches : described as a head pain which manifests on quiet environment. It benefits from physical activity, warm, pressure on the temples.

4)Migraines/Headaches with associate autonomic symptoms or mental health problems: some associated symptoms or mental health problems are:

• Migrant pains in the body
• Muscles cramp
• Muscle twitches
• Dizziness
• Tinnitus
• Rapid or increased heart rate (palpitations)
• Sudden warm or cold or sweating
• Over-Under sensitive smelling
• Runny nose or nose clogged
• Dry skin, numb skin
• Itchy skin, current sensation on the skin
• Over-Under sensitive hearing
• Excessive sweating
• Dry or watery eyes and/or mouth
• Bowel and/or Stomach problems, such as heart burn or stipsi, diarrhea, diffuclties to digest,bloating bowel etc.
• Sleep patterns: such as difficulties to fall asleep or to wake up/get up in the morning, awake in the the night, not restorative sleep.
• Anxiety,
• Irritable,
• Depression,
• No motivation,
• Frequently goose pimples or butterflies in the stomach,
• Panic attack
• Need to go to the toilet in particular situations.

Let’s see what Non-drug treatment as physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture can do.

 1)Musculoskeletal Migraines/Headaches:

  * To learn more about the self help section follow https://www.5starclinicltd.com/musculoskeletal-migraines-headaches/

 2)Visceral/hormonal Migraine/Headaches:

 3)”Energetic” migraine/Headaches :

 4)Migraines/Headaches with associate autonomic symptoms or mental health problems: *

 * These are the most difficult to treat and they require more than any other a multidisciplinary approach.

* The acupuncture approach in this case aim to help to balance the autonomic nervous system, lower the level of stress and influencing the sleep and the mood status.

In the next articles we will examine for each group how the non drug treatment aim to help you and how you can help yourself on your own.