Migraines are throbbing headaches that last hours, even days. They often need more than over-the-counter pain medication to ease.
Chiropractors use various spinal adjustments to treat migraines. They may also suggest lifestyle and ergonomic changes to boost treatment effects.
For example, drinking plenty of water can help prevent migraines in some individuals. They may also recommend avoiding foods known to trigger symptoms.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Migraines are a type of chronic, throbbing headache that typically affects one side of the head. They are often accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and disturbed vision, making them highly disruptive to daily activities. The good news is that migraines can be prevented and treated with chiropractic methods, which have been shown to decrease the frequency and intensity of these painful episodes.
Unlike pain medications, which can have serious side effects, chiropractic adjustments are safe for all ages and can provide long-term relief from migraines. These gentle spinal manipulation techniques improve joint mobility and alleviate pressure on nerves that cause headaches.
Spinal misalignments, or subluxations, are a major culprit in migraines, and chiropractic care can relieve them. This is because chiropractors understand the way that the spine and nervous system function together, and they can align the vertebrae to ease the pressure on nerves that connect to the brain and trigger headaches.
Chiropractors also employ a range of soft tissue therapy to reduce tension in the neck, back, and shoulders that can contribute to migraines. These therapies include massage, stretching, and exercises that target specific muscle groups. For example, they may suggest performing a series of deep neck flexes that involve lying on the floor and contracting the muscles in your neck and shoulders.
Other techniques that chiropractors use to treat migraines include posture modifications, which can help relieve stress and irritation in the joints and muscles of your neck and upper back. They can also advise you on a healthy diet and exercise routine, which can reduce inflammation and help your body to heal. They can even refer you to integrative medicine specialists if you need more specialized treatment.
Massage
For centuries, massage has been used as a treatment for many conditions including headaches. Research has shown that it can help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines by promoting relaxation, decreasing stress levels, and alleviating muscle tension. It also has the ability to reduce the effects of migraine triggers like caffeine, alcohol, and poor sleep.
For instance, a study on migraine sufferers found that those who received weekly massages had fewer migraine attacks and improved quality of life. These improvements occurred both during the study period and the three following weeks, which demonstrates the effectiveness of massage therapy for migraine prevention.
A chiropractor may use a combination of spinal adjustments and massage to help treat or prevent migraines for patients. This is because spinal manipulation might have the ability to impact how nerves send signals to the brain and could help alleviate the pain of a migraine attack. Additionally, massage is a great way to relax the muscles in the head and neck. This can provide relief from the tension that often accompanies migraines and can help to relieve stress and anxiety, which are common triggers for migraine headaches.
Another option for relieving migraines through massage is myofascial release, which eases the tightness of connective tissue in the neck and shoulders. This type of massage is a good choice for people with migraines, especially those who find over-the-counter migraine medications ineffective or have concerns about side effects.
It’s important to note that everyone’s triggers for migraines are different, and experimenting with different techniques is often necessary in finding the right solution. In addition to chiropractic and massage, exercise, stress management techniques, and dietary changes can also all help improve migraines for some people.
Nutritional Advice
A chiropractor is a medical professional who has been trained to work with the musculoskeletal system. They may recommend dietary changes to help with migraines, as well as provide specific exercise regimens to address the symptoms. Additionally, a chiropractor may offer lifestyle advice to reduce stress levels and other factors that contribute to migraine episodes.
A diet that is low in fat and sodium can be beneficial, as it helps to avoid foods that trigger headaches in some people. A low glycemic diet is also recommended, as it can help prevent blood sugar levels from rising too high and then falling too low, which can trigger a headache. The National Headache Foundation also suggests trying a low histamine diet, since some foods containing histamine are known to trigger headaches in certain individuals.
Another dietary habit that can contribute to migraines is skipping meals. When a person skips meals, their blood sugar drops too quickly and this can also trigger a headache. It is a good idea to stick to a pattern of three regular, small meals per day.
In addition to dietary advice, a chiropractor may recommend acupuncture for migraines. Acupuncture involves inserting tiny needles into points on the body that are believed to be responsible for triggering headaches. These points lie along the meridians, which are pathways that help energy flow throughout the body.
A chiropractor can advise patients on other lifestyle practices that may help with their migraines, such as getting plenty of restful sleep. Having a regular sleep schedule can help to prevent insomnia, which is known to be a trigger for migraines. Getting regular exercise may also help to reduce stress levels, which is another potential trigger for migraines, in tune with the advice of the Madison chiropractors.
Exercise
Migraine headaches are intense throbbing or pulsing pains that can last hours or days and often cause nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. While many migraine sufferers rely on medication to help ease these debilitating attacks, they can also benefit from chiropractic care. This holistic treatment focuses on restoring balance in the body to prevent migraines and alleviate symptoms.
One of the main causes of migraines is neck issues such as spinal misalignments, which can irritate muscles, nerve tissue and impede blood flow to the head and neck. Chiropractors use gentle techniques to correct these imbalances and help the nervous system function normally.
Your chiropractor may also advise you on lifestyle changes to improve posture, work ergonomics and relaxation techniques, which can all help relieve recurring joint tension that can trigger migraines. They may also offer acupuncture, which involves inserting tiny needles at specific points on the body believed to affect the flow of energy and relieve stress – another common trigger of migraines.
Aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, running and jogging can increase blood flow to the head and neck muscles and also release feel-good endorphins. However, it’s important to start slowly and build up your endurance as over-exercising can lead to fatigue, which may trigger a migraine attack.
It’s also advisable to hydrate before, during and after exercising as dehydration is a common migraine trigger. Drinking water is ideal, but if you find this difficult to do try Isotonic drinks – these are a great alternative as they contain the same electrolytes as your body and can help you stay hydrated during exercise. It’s also a good idea to avoid extreme heat, cold and high altitude when exercising as these can all trigger migraines in some people.
Sleep
Anyone who has suffered through a migraine knows how debilitating these episodes can be. The intense throbbing or pulsing pain and other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light, sound and smell can last hours to days. While medication can reduce the severity of an attack, it does not address the underlying issues and can have serious side effects. For this reason, more and more people are seeking alternative remedies to get relief from the symptoms without drugs.
A chiropractor can help alleviate the pain and other symptoms of a migraine by using techniques such as spinal adjustment and massage therapy to improve the posture, spinal alignment and muscles in the neck and head. These techniques can help to release certain chemicals that block pain signals from the brain, as well as to relieve the stress on nerves and blood vessels in the head and neck which can contribute to a migraine.
Migraine sufferers are also encouraged to exercise, as this has been shown to prevent attacks. Regular exercise also helps to improve muscle strength and mobility, which can be a problem for many migraine sufferers. In addition, a healthy diet is important for those suffering from migraines. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help to reduce inflammation and inflammatory markers, which may be triggers of headaches.
Another way to reduce the risk of migraines is to keep a diary of your symptoms and their triggers. This can help you to work out what is triggering your attacks and to make lifestyle changes accordingly. You can also try to incorporate psychological sleep interventions, such as identifying and challenging negative thoughts, relaxation training and stress reduction, into your daily life.