Headache Treatment Oakville:
Our Oakville physiotherapy teams says there are many types of headaches, but the most common headaches we treat at our Oakville physiotherapy clinic are tension headaches and migraines. Most of these headaches are cervicogenic in nature or coming from the neck area. Our medical team sees these headaches in all ages and in all different types of people. Whether your headaches are coming from your neck or a concussion or from too much computer or bad posture driving our physiotherapists have the treatment you need. If we cant fix your headaches we will work with your medical doctor so you get to the root cause!
NEW 2023 — TEXT NECK HEADACHES: Treatment
Vinaya and Dr. Jenn are not even sure this is a proper diagnosis as of yet. They are seeing a huge increase in malformations of the spine and the muscles around the area that are causing kids as young as 4 years old to have chronic headaches. 10 Years ago our Oakville Clinic would get 1 child with chronic headaches a month, now our Physio team is seeing multiple cases a week.
Dr. Jenn says it is safe to say that since Covid our children have increased their screen time and their spine and posture is suffering! Kids and grown ups spending hours a day looking down a their phones and tablets are causing catastrophic changes to their spine which affects their overall muscle tension which can cause Headaches! Once again, kids as young as 4 have come into our clinic with chronic headaches and severe mood changes all do to too much phone and really really bad posture.
Tension Headache Treatment Oakville
Our Oakville physiotherapy team says “Tension headaches are ignored too often!” People who suffer from tension headaches think they have to live with the headache pain and there are no permanent solutions to their tension headaches. Whether it’s because they have accepted that their tension headaches are a regular annoyance or that they’re unaware how easily they can be treated, tension headaches are one of the most common discomforts that our Oakville physiotherapy clinic sees on a daily basis.
Migraine Treatment Oakville
Physiotherapy Treatment of Neck Muscles for Headaches
Tense or strained suboccipital muscles are a common cause of tension headaches. These muscles are found under the back of the skull and, when tense, can cause pain almost anywhere in the neck or head. The most common places that suboccipital muscles refer pain is to the temple, side of the head, forehead, or behind the ears.
The suboccipital muscles are very important to us! They are what keep the head balanced on top of the spine and attached to the body. It’s no wonder they get tense with everyday activity and work routines!
Massage therapy that is focused the suboccipital muscles and surrounding muscles is one of the most raved about treatments. This treatment not only relieves the tension headaches but also helps the patient eliminate the other symptoms that may come with tension headaches such as neck pain, lightheadedness, and nausea. These annoying pains can easily be treated through active release therapy by focusing on the trigger points in your neck that are likely causing the headaches to occur. Acupuncture and shockwave treatment are other options for tension headache treatment in Oakville.
Learn More About How Acupuncture Can Help Tension Headaches in Oakville
If you’re experiencing the symptoms of tension headaches such as temple pain, pain behind the ears, or the sensation of a vice-like squeeze around your forehead, it is important that you see a physiotherapist! Our Oakville physiotherapist is able to treat tension headaches with hands-on treatment and will provide you with advice to help aid in recovery in-between your appointments.
Home Care For Tension Headaches: Advice From Our Oakville Physiotherapist
- Give your head a break: The majority of people work at a desk. Poor desk posture can cause neck tension, headaches and eye fatigue. Oftentimes, you won’t even realize it until its To release the tension that arises from working at a desk, rest your eyes every 20 minutes for 20 seconds and take a screen break from your computer for at least 5 minutes every hour. For more desk tips check out Dr. Steve’s posture tips on our ‘Posture at the Computer’ page.
- Give yourself a mini massage: To relieve the tension headache try giving yourself a mini massage! Use your hands to focus on massaging behind your ears and at the top of your spine (right under your skull) to release the strain in your suboccipital muscles. Push your fingers up under the skull and look down (bring your chin to your chest) to help alleviate suboccipital muscle tension.
- Apply cold and heat: This is how we treat all other sore muscles and it’s no different for tension headaches! The cold will help with inflamed muscles and the heat will help relax the knotted muscles.
- Stretch: To keep neck muscles relaxed throughout daily activities it’s important to do regular neck stretches specifically to loosen the suboccipital muscles. Check out our stretches and strength exercises page for suggestions.