Can Chiropractic Help With Headaches?

Posted: September 10th, 2021

Headaches are one of the most common reasons people seek our care. While headaches can stem from many causes, a significant number—particularly those causing stiffness and recurrent pain—are directly linked to joint restriction and muscle tension in the neck and upper spine.

At Falcon Chiropractic in Harrogate, we specialize in managing the musculoskeletal symptoms that often trigger or contribute to these issues. Our focus is on functional improvement and relieving the physical stress causing your discomfort.

1. Focusing on Neck-Related Headache Types

It is vital to understand that chiropractic care addresses headaches that originate from the neck and surrounding structures. We primarily focus on two clinically recognized types:

• Cervicogenic Headaches (CGH): These are headaches caused by pain referred from a specific source in the neck (cervical spine), such as the joints, ligaments, or upper neck muscles. Pain often starts in the neck and radiates up to the base of the skull, forehead, or eye.

• Tension-Type Headaches (TTH): These are often linked to chronic muscle tension and stiffness in the neck, shoulders, and upper back—common consequences of stress or poor posture (like "Text Neck").

We do not claim to treat medical conditions like migraines or headaches caused by disease, trauma, or infection.

2. The Mechanism: Function Over Pain

Our method is based on addressing the root mechanical causes of these headaches:

1. Joint Restriction: When neck joints lose proper mobility (often due to prolonged sitting or minor trauma), they can irritate the sensitive structures around them.

2. Muscle Tension: Chronic stress or poor posture causes muscles (like the upper trapezius and suboccipitals) to tighten, referring pain into the head.

Chiropractic adjustments and manual therapies aim to restore normal motion to the restricted joints and reduce the excessive muscle tension, thereby reducing the physical stress that triggers the headache.

Supporting Research: The effectiveness of manual therapy, including spinal adjustments, has been widely studied for neck-related headache types. Research supports that this type of care can be beneficial in reducing the frequency and intensity of cervicogenic headaches and some forms of tension-type headaches. (Source: Clinical Practice Guidelines & Annals of Internal Medicine, 2012) [Link to: https://annals.org/aim/fullarticle/1033256/spinal-manipulation-medication-home-exercise-advice-acute-subacute-neck-pain]

3. Your Next Step in Harrogate

If your headaches are characterized by neck stiffness, poor mobility, or start after long periods of sitting, you may benefit from a functional assessment.

We will conduct a detailed examination to determine if the joints and muscles in your neck are contributing to your pain and develop a personalized plan to manage your symptoms.

Ready to find a functional solution for your neck pain and stiffness? Contact Falcon Chiropractic Harrogate today.