Headache Treatment
Physical Therapist in Fishers, IN
A headache is a pain or discomfort in the head or face. Approximately 80-90% of people across the United States endure occasional or frequent headaches. It is also the third most commonly reported source of pain worldwide. However, headaches vary significantly in terms of the location and intensity of the pain and how often the headaches occur.
Headaches are classified as primary or secondary:
A primary headache means the headache itself is the leading medical problem, although other factors, such as muscle tension or exposure to certain foods, may be identified. Other contributing factors include medicines, dehydration, or hormone changes. Examples are migraine, tension-type headaches, or
cluster headaches.
A secondary headache is related to an underlying medical condition. An example of this would be cervicogenic headache, a headache due to a neck injury, eye problems, jaw, teeth, or sinus infection.
How Can Physical Therapy Help?
Most headaches are harmless and resolve on their own. However, severe headaches that recur frequently can affect your ability to do your daily activities and can reduce your quality of life. There is an effective treatment for almost every type of headache. Yet, physical therapy isn’t usually someone’s first when they have a headache, and the most common reaction is to take pain medications.
At Osteopractic Physical Therapists of Central Indiana, we can help determine the type of headache you have, and we are experts in managing pain from various sources. Physical Therapy aims to improve the recognition and management of headaches, with more targeted treatment to improve the quality of life for people with headaches. Our physical therapists are movement experts and will help you improve your quality of life through hands-on care – manual therapy ( spinal manipulation, dry needling, soft tissue mobilization), prescribed exercise ( decrease pain, improve endurance, reduce inflammation, promote overall healing), and patient education to help in lessening the severity or frequency of headaches. In addition, a physical therapist can teach you to identify specific triggers (such as diet, sleep, movement/postural habits, stressors, and hydration). They can also teach how to help alleviate symptoms through various relaxation techniques.
Get started today!
Request your appointment at Osteopractic Physical Therapy of Central Indiana. If you suffer from headaches or migraines, you are not alone! Pain relief drugs will not provide the same long-term effects as physical therapy. Get started so we can help you make your daily life comfortable without the pain of headaches.
