Summary
Headaches can be a headache to manage, but finding effective relief is possible. Our Hamilton osteopaths offer osteopathy with acupuncture to address the underlying causes of headaches, providing long-lasting relief and improving overall well-being. Both Osteopathy and Acupuncture focus on the gentle manipulation of muscles and joints, reducing tension and restoring mobility. They are particularly beneficial for tension headaches, migraines, and cervicogenic headaches. Both have been proven to be evidence based valuable tools, offering superior pain relief compared to conventional care. By incorporating these approaches, along with maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you can find relief and prevent or better manage future headache episodes.
Headaches come in various forms, but three primary types are commonly experienced:
Tension headaches: Often associated with stress and postural tension, tension headaches typically manifest as a feeling of tightness or pressure that affects both sides of the head.
Migraines: These intense headaches can have various causes or triggers, including referral from the upper neck. Migraines usually affect one side of the head and can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, and sensitivity to light or sound.
Cervicogenic headaches: Referred from the upper neck, cervicogenic headaches occur on a regular basis and are felt at the back of the head near the top of the neck. They can sometimes cause pain around the eyes.
Identifying Root Causes:
It is not always possible to identify what triggers a headache, however many headaches stem from tension, muscle stiffness, or joint strain in the neck and upper thoracic region. Other factors, such as eye strain, sinus congestion, stress, poor posture, jaw imbalance, and more, can also contribute to headache episodes. In the case of cervicogenic headaches, we can see that different muscles will refer to different parts of the head.
Osteopathy for Headache Relief
Osteopathy offers effective relief for general headaches by targeting underlying musculoskeletal causes. Through gentle manipulation of the muscles and joints in the neck, spine, upper back, and shoulders, osteopathic treatment can alleviate muscular tension, improve blood flow, and reduce nerve irritation. Studies have shown that spinal manipulation used in osteopathic treatment can provide relief comparable to commonly used pain medications - but without the side effects.
Improving Headaches with Good Posture
Headaches related to postural problems can be effectively addressed through osteopathy. Your osteopath can provide valuable advice on correcting your posture and offer simple at-home exercises to alleviate discomfort. Additionally, they can guide you in setting up an ergonomic workstation, ensuring proper alignment and reducing the risk of recurring headaches.
Acupuncture as a Valuable Tool
In addition to osteopathy, our Hamilton osteopath Darryl offers acupuncture along side osteopathy, which has been proven to be a useful tool in managing headaches. Large-scale clinical studies consistently demonstrate that acupuncture provides better pain relief compared to usual care. A 2012 meta-analysis involving thousands of patients concluded that acupuncture is superior to sham treatment for various common pain conditions, including headaches. Furthermore, acupuncture has an excellent safety profile when performed by a trained practitioner, with minimal adverse events reported.
A Note from us
We understand that headaches can be quite unpleasant, but we're here to provide you with relief. Our Hamilton osteopaths offer a wide range of skilled hands-on techniques and lifestyle advice that many of our patients have found helpful. Unlike strong pain medications that may need to be taken for extended periods, osteopathy can offer you a great alternative by reducing or even eliminating the need for meds. While we can't guarantee that we can help everyone, we're dedicated to providing you with the best possible care.
Darryl Jenkins
TLC Osteopaths
Hamilton
Darryl Jenkins is a friendly Hamilton osteopath and co-owner of TLC Osteopaths. His formal qualifications include a undergraduate certificate in Exercise science from Wintec, a degree in Human Biology from Unitec, and a master's degree in osteopathy from Unitec, where he also completed his thesis on human movement assessment. He also holds a postgraduate certificate in acupuncture from AUT which means he practices osteopathy and acupuncture. He would like to be pursuing the postgraduate certificate in Pain Science at Otago Uni (awaiting spouse approval).
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