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More Than 8 Million People Seek Headache Treatments

Written By Taschler Spine & Rehab on November 16, 2017

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in seven adults worldwide suffers from regular headaches, and one in 20 has chronic headaches and/or migraines. In the US alone, statistics show that 45 million people suffer from headaches, with about 8 million of those sufferers seeking headache treatment. While debilitating to the patient, businesses and organizations also feel its impact as manifested by reduced productivity, lost days at work, and spiraling medical costs associated with seeking a cure.

There are numerous sources of headache pain, ranging from simple hangovers to tumors and other neurological disorders. However, the most common source of headache pain is caused by problems with the cervical spine and neck due to injury, tension, or pinched nerves. Thankfully, these are also some of the most easily treatable headaches.

Chiropractic Care for Treating Headaches

Chiropractors can provide relief from headache pain. After an initial consultation to determine how and why the patient may be suffering, an exam will generally begin with an analysis of the spine, considering posture, range of movement, and other anatomical imbalances. Performing gentle spinal manipulation to allow the vertebrae to return to a natural alignment within the body can provide relief for many patients seeking headache treatment.

 

If the head pain is related to a more complex structural imbalance because of an accident or injury, the chiropractor may perform isolated therapeutic massage, trigger point massage, or other soft tissue therapy to reduce tension and stiffness in the muscles surrounding and supporting the head and neck.

How Chiropractors Can Help Treat Headache Pain

Oftentimes headaches are a result of an injury that occurred years ago, and the buildup of tension and fatigue in the compensating muscles is driving the sensation of pain as headache. In these cases, working with a chiropractor to re-train the body to self heal is an important step in headache treatment. This can include postural work, awareness training to self-correct movement, as well as the use of devices such as mouth guards to allow for a more anatomically restful positioning of the body.

While headache treatments are wide ranging, many people pursue relief through chiropractic. Particularly for patients who may be sensitive to pharmaceuticals or concerned about invasive medical treatments, healing with chiropractic can offer alternatives that are compatible with their lifestyle choices.

 


Posted In: Chiropractic Headache Treatment