Kingston & Teddington Osteopathy – June 2019 Newsletter

June 2019 Newsletter

Osteopathy for Headaches

Some people are lucky never to get headaches but for many of us they can be a recurring problem. I have personally suffered headaches since I was a little girl and these ‘tension’ headaches have led into migraines in later life. I find regular Osteopathic treatment helps relieve the neck tension that results from the headaches and the vicious cycle of tension-headache-tension that then ensues.

Kind regards,

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headaches but the cause of them isn’t well understood. As Osteopaths we often observe the cycle of neck/postural tension causing a headache which then in turn causes more tension, which leads to further headaches…

This can be very debilitating to patients, impacting on their lives and causing a lot of distress.

Common Symptoms of Tension Headaches

Tension headaches can be a diffuse pain anywhere from the back and top of the head or radiating from the forehead to the sides of the head. They can be infrequent or continuous ranging from 15 minutes to 15 days or more in duration. Unlike migraines, tension headaches aren’t associated with visual disturbances or vomiting but activity may make them worse and there may be sensitivity to light.

In some migraine sufferers, a tension headache may be the trigger that brings on a migraine.

How Osteopathy Can Help

Osteopathy on its own can be beneficial to help ease tension headaches but your Osteopath will also discuss lifestyle factors which may help. As everyone is an individual and tension headaches are always unique to that person, they will discuss all the many factors that may contribute. For example, diet, climate, environmental factors, stress management.

Musculoskeletally, your Osteopath will do their best to improve the function of the spine and muscles to help maximise movement and reduce stress on the neck muscles. In turn, post-headache, they will alleviate the tension in the neck and shoulders caused by the headache itself. Various techniques will be used and each patient will respond uniquely to different treatments to alleviate the headache. Therefore, your Osteopath may need a couple of treatments to work out which ‘pattern’ of treatment is best for you.

For Further Information please call our Osteopaths today and we can help you stay fit and healthy over the Summer. 02089776396