Did you know your 3DPT physical therapist can help you decrease or eliminate headache pain? A trained physical therapist can help to decrease pain caused from musculoskeletal headaches, which are headaches caused by muscle tension, joint dysfunction, or irritation to the nerves in your neck. Some of the muscles that can cause headaches include your upper trapezius, suboccipitals, and sternocleidomastoid, to name a few!
As with any first visit at 3DPT, your physical therapist will do a thorough evaluation with you – obtaining a history of your headaches and other information, along with evaluating your movement and strength.
From there we will create a personalized treatment plan involving muscular releases and joint mobilizations, followed by stretching and strengthening to eliminate the muscle imbalance that can cause headaches.
Physical therapy for migraine and headaches. Not all headaches are the same. Cervicogenic headache starts in the joints and muscles of the upper neck and refers pain into the head. Tension-type headache is driven by neck and shoulder muscle tension. And many people living with migraine find that neck stiffness, posture, or trigger points in the upper trapezius and suboccipital muscles set off or prolong a migraine attack. A 3DPT physical therapist evaluates each of these contributors, treats the ones that respond to hands-on care, dry needling, and targeted exercise, and works alongside your neurologist or primary care provider as part of your overall plan.
Headache and migraine treatment in NJ, PA & DE. 3DPT provides physical therapy for migraine and headaches at 14 locations across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Whether you are living with chronic migraine, episodic migraine, cervicogenic headache, or neck and shoulder tension headaches, an evaluation can identify what physical therapy can change and set realistic goals for fewer headache days.
In this video, Liz demonstrates what a treatment for headaches might look like. It’s amazing that muscles and joints that may not have been bothering you could be the cause of headache pain!
As experts in how our bodies work, physical therapists can help determine underlying causes of pain, such as headaches. If you’ve been living with headaches or migraine attacks, call one of our offices to make an appointment!
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Categorized as: Back & Neck