Headaches & Migraines
Physical therapy helps most with headaches that come from the neck and with tension-type headaches, which are tied to posture and tight neck and shoulder muscles. For migraines, it works alongside your doctor and does not replace a neurologist. Joint Effort Physical Therapy treats headaches in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Which kind of headache do you have
Different headaches come from different causes, and treatment depends on telling them apart.
Cervicogenic headache
A headache from the neck, tied to the top three vertebrae. People call it a headache at the base of skull or a headache from neck problems. Work that keeps the head tilted down, like hairdressing, long-haul driving, cooking, nail work or jewelry making, is a common trigger, as are arthritis and a past concussion.
Tension headache
The most common type. Repetitive motion or poor head and neck posture strains the membrane around the brain, the dura mater, and small muscles at the base of the skull go into spasm. Those daily headaches build through the day.
Musculoskeletal headache
Heavy tension in the neck from imbalance, weakness or injury, including whiplash, can send pain into the head, face and shoulders. Stress adds to it.
What PT can and cannot do for migraines
Physical therapy for migraines is part of a team approach. If your migraines come with neck stiffness, tight shoulders or jaw clenching, treating those can help reduce how often they happen and how bad they feel. It does not replace the diagnosis and medical care you get from your doctor or a neurologist, and we will tell you if something about your pattern should be checked by one.
A headache behind the eyes is often traced back to the upper neck, but it can have other causes too, which is part of why we start with a careful evaluation.
How your neck, jaw and posture feed your headaches
We look above and below the head.
The neck and upper back
Stiff upper neck joints and weak muscles at the neck and upper back make the small muscles at the skull work overtime. See Neck Pain for the neck itself.
The jaw
Clenching loads the muscles at the temples and cheeks. When the jaw is the main source, TMJ and jaw pain is the better fit.
Head injury
Headaches that began after a blow to the head need their own evaluation. See Concussion.
What a headache visit involves
At your first appointment your physical therapist does a physical evaluation and asks about your health history and symptoms to work out which type of headache you have and where the pain starts. A plan is then designed for you.
Treatment focuses on relieving pain, improving posture and strengthening the neck and upper back. Manual therapy for the neck and upper back, trigger point release and Dry Needling ease tight muscle, deep neck flexor strengthening supports the neck, and we teach relaxation and breathing techniques to calm the muscles between visits.
Go to the ER for these headaches
These are not physical therapy problems.
- A sudden headache that feels like the worst of your life
- Headache with weakness on one side of the body
- Headache with slurred speech, confusion or loss of vision
- Headache after a head injury
Not sure whether your plan needs a referral? Call us. As a courtesy, we verify your health benefits before you arrive.
Headaches and migraines care in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Joint Effort Physical Therapy treats Headaches and migraines at our Hot Springs clinic, 1880 Airport Rd., Suite C.
Not sure whether your plan needs a referral? Call us. As a courtesy, we verify your health benefits before you arrive.
Meet the people who treat you on our team page.