Author: Ross

If you are dealing with regular headaches then you know how debilitating and disruptive to your life they can be. They may be mild, as in a dull ache that you are still able to function with, or they could be a severe and painful throbbing headache that make it difficult for you to function.

You may get some temporary relief from over the counter pain medications.

If it is a mild headache, that may be all that you require, but if the headaches are severe or occur regularly, you may need further investigation to get to the cause of the problem.

Chiropractic may be able to help.

If you are looking for a safe, natural and effective method of reducing, or even eliminating your headaches, chiropractic may be the answer you are looking for.

Research indicates the regular chiropractic care may be an effective treatment, to not only get rid of the pain associated with headaches, but also address the underlying cause of many common types of headaches. This includes, neck pain, occipital headaches, postural headaches, tension headaches, migraines and more.

How Can Chiropractic help with Headaches?

When you visit a chiropractor, you will first have a thorough history taken.

You will then undergo a full physical examination, which may include orthopedic testing, neurological testing and if necessary, the chiropractor may decide on some form of imaging.

Once the chiropractor has a clear idea of what may be the underlying cause of your headaches a treatment plan will be formulated.

This may involve chiropractic adjustments, as well as postural and lifestyle advice.

The chiropractic adjustments may relieve neck tension or spinal joint restrictions that can be causing your headaches.

As well as adjustments to your neck, the chiropractor may also need to adjust other parts of your spine or pelvis as this may be the underlying cause of the neck tension and headaches.

Lifestyle Modifications to Prevent Headaches

While  regular chiropractic adjustments may reduce the stress on your spine and nervous system, different lifestyle adjustments may also be helpful.

There are many different triggers that can contribute to your headaches.

Some of the common causes of headaches include,

• Sitting at a desk for long periods without a break.
• Stress
• Extended periods looking at your phone or computer
• Certain foods can trigger headaches
• Dehydration
• Old whiplash injuries
• Poor sleep habits
• Exposure to chemicals
• Poor sleep habits

Once the root cause of your headaches is established, it will be easier to make any lifestyle adjustments necessary to keep your headaches at bay.

This may be as simple as drinking more water , changing your diet, reducing or managing stress, or maybe just getting more sleep.

Combined with regular chiropractic care your headaches may be a thing of the past or at least a lot less frequent.

Unfortunately, headaches can also be a sign of more serious health problems,

and if something more serious is suspected, you will be referred on to the necessary  specialist to investigate further.

Chiropractic and Neck Pain

 Chiropractic care is a non-surgical treatment option which may help reduce your neck pain and related symptoms. Listed below are some of the neck (cervical) conditions that your chiropractor may be able to help with.

• Cervical intervertebral disk injuries that don’t require surgery
• Cervical sprain injuries
• Degenerative joint disease of the neck
• Facet joint sprain
• Whiplash

How Does a Chiropractor Diagnose Neck Pain?

Your chiropractor will evaluate your entire spine, as other regions of your spine or pelvis could be the underlying cause of your neck pain.

As well as checking your entire spine, chiropractors treat the “whole person,” not just your specific symptoms. He or she may educate you on nutrition, stress management, and lifestyle goals in addition to treating your neck pain.

Before deciding which approach to undertake for your pain, the chiropractor will do an examination to diagnose the precise explanation for your neck pain.

He or she is going to determine any areas of restricted movement, as well as your posture and spinal alignment. Through this examination your chiropractor gains a better understanding of your body mechanics.

In addition to the physical exam, your chiropractor will conduct a thorough history, and he or she may order imaging tests (eg, an x-ray, CT scan or MRI) to assist him or her diagnose the reason for your neck pain.

All these steps within the diagnostic process will give your chiropractor more information about your neck pain, which can help in creating a treatment plan customized for you.

Chiropractic Treatments for Neck Pain

Your chiropractor may use a mixture of spinal manipulation, manual therapy, and other techniques as a part of your treatment plan for neck pain.

Below are some spinal manipulation techniques your chiropractor may use.

Flexion-distraction technique may be a gentle, hands-on spinal manipulation that involves a pumping action on the intervertebral disk rather than direct force.

Instrument-assisted manipulation uses a hand-held instrument to permit your chiropractor to use force without thrusting into the spine.

Specific spinal manipulation helps restore joint movement employing a gentle thrusting technique.

Your chiropractor can also use manual therapies to treat your neck pain.

Instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy uses special instruments to diagnose and treat muscle tension.

Manual joint stretching and resistance techniques can help reduce neck pain and other symptoms.

Therapeutic massage can help relax tense muscles.

Trigger point therapy is employed to alleviate tight, painful points on a muscle.

Other therapies can also be used to ease neck pain symptoms.

Therapeutic exercises may also be recommended—these can help improve overall range of motion in your neck and stop neck pain from progressing.

The treatments listed above are simply samples of possible chiropractic treatments for neck pain; your actual treatment plan will depend upon your diagnosis. Your chiropractor will thoroughly explain your treatment options in order that you recognize what is going to happen.