Relieving Your Headache With A Mt Eden Physio

From time to time, many of us find ourselves battling with a painful headache that just won’t budge. It either subsides over a few hours on its own or we resort to using quick over-the-counter painkillers to get rid of the frustrating ache.

We may even think frequent headaches are due to the heat, a busy day or back-to-work stress. And while you may be right about some of the underlying causes, it still becomes a concern if these headaches appear often. The more frequent the headaches are, the more reason for alarm bells to go off because your body is trying to signal to you that you need to see a healthcare professional such as a Mt Eden Physio as soon as possible.

Not All Headaches Are The Same

Headaches can be split into tension, neck, cluster headaches and migraines. Tension headaches are more common and are generally caused by any physical stress or mental fatigue. Neck headaches are caused by the neck itself and indicate a physical problem that may be worsening. Cluster headaches are usually the ones which lead many of us to immediately go to a doctor for pain relief. Pain from cluster headaches is excruciating and generally starts on one side of the head only. Lastly, migraines are the pulsating pain we feel and are also usually only on one side of our head and affects our vision and hearing dramatically. All can be amplified by our daily routines and the way we live, from the way we sleep to our posture. Our regular movements play a critical role in the amount of pressure we internalise physically.

A Simple Headache Still Needs To Be Alleviated

Now there may be some hesitation about seeing a physiotherapist for a simple headache, but we can actually help relieve your pain. We try to diagnose your headache, find the triggering points behind it and explain to you the possible causes. We also use a range of massage techniques, relaxation therapy and posture correction to help you reduce or prevent headaches in the future.

Below are the most common underlying causes we usually find behind a painful headache.

Poor Posture 

Constant slouching, working with your head down and using your cell phone at awkward positions all contribute to poor posture. Sometimes this itself is the reason alone for your headache. We can help evaluate the way you sit, walk and stand to try and reduce the impact on your neck and head.

Sleeping Habits

Worn down pillows that provide no real support for your head, neck and shoulders are an indication that it is time to throw them out. But in addition to that, a physio can quickly determine your sleeping position and evaluate the strain on your neck. From here, we can assist with correcting the position and advise on the best supportive pillows to use.

Extreme Exercise 

Finally, some of the exercises you may be doing can cause a headache. It can be attributed to your form and technique which may be causing strain in your neck leading up to your head. From picking up weights incorrectly or inadequate stretching before exercising – a physiotherapist can help you see where your potential areas of damage are and assist you.

A headache may be more serious than you think, which is why we recommend you visit a Mt Eden Physio at Cairnhill Physiotherapy to get a more accurate evaluation. We can quickly determine the severity of your headaches and provide you with a treatment plan to help you avoid headache pains in the future. Give us a call today.