Headaches can be a debilitating and frustrating condition that affects millions of people worldwide.
9 out of 10 North Americans have suffered from headaches at some point in their lives.
There are many different types of headaches with symptoms ranging from mild to moderately achy or throbbing pains often associated with dysfunction in your neck.
Headaches can arise from numerous factors, including stress, muscle tension, poor posture, joint dysfunction in the neck, and underlying medical conditions. It is crucial to identify the root cause to effectively address and alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with headaches.
What's causing your headache?
Other than some visual causes from staring at the computer screen, most desk-sitting causes of headaches are due to muscular imbalances of the neck and upper torso region. The result is muscular tightness of the deep occipital muscles, which leads to “tension” type headaches. Typically the headache feels like it is behind your eyes or at the base of your skull.
Research has demonstrated that chiropractic adjustments can not only have an immediate effect on these headaches but also have a long-lasting effect.
We use various safe and effective techniques to help treat and manage headaches. We have had success treating both acute and persistent headaches.
Different Types of Headaches and Related Symptoms
Upper Crossed Syndrome and Headaches
The Upper Crossed Syndrome is a muscular imbalance of the upper torso and neck that rounds the shoulders and causes a forward head posture.
The problem with the forward head posture is that it places excessive stress on the posterior neck muscles to hold the head up. The head weighs, on average, 8-12 lbs, so imagine holding a 10 lb bowling ball with your arms stretched out in front of you versus close to your chest. The 10lbs feels a lot heavier when held away from your chest because the force of gravity becomes greater due to an increased distance from the fulcrum or center of gravity.
If your head is set forward a couple of inches, this places the head forward of the center of gravity and places the deep posterior neck muscles at a biomechanical disadvantage.
The Upper Crossed Syndrome can also lead to mid-back pain, shoulder pain and other pain syndromes. One way to prevent this cause of headaches is to ensure chest/shoulder flexibility, mid-back strength, posterior neck flexibility and activation of the deep neck flexors.
If you currently suffer from headaches, you should get evaluated and possibly treated for this condition. Treatment methods include:
- Chiropractic care
- Active Release Technique
- Corrective exercises
- Ergonomic advice
How E3 Treats Your Headaches
Collaborative Care at E3 Chiropractic + Wellness
At E3 Chiropractic + Wellness, we commit to delivering high-quality healthcare to our patients. Sometimes, a collaborative approach combining chiropractic care and physiotherapy may be recommended. This integrated care ensures a comprehensive and tailored treatment plan that addresses the specific needs of each individual.
Chiropractic Care
As a leading chiropractic clinic in Saskatoon, E3 Chiropractic + Wellness offers specialized services for individuals suffering from headaches. Our experienced and highly trained chiropractors use a holistic approach to diagnose and treat headaches effectively. By conducting thorough assessments and evaluations, they aim to identify any spinal misalignments or imbalances contributing to your headaches.
Chiropractic adjustments, a core treatment modality at E3 Chiropractic + Wellness, help restore proper joint motion to the spine and reduce tension in the surrounding muscles. These adjustments can profoundly impact headache management, providing relief from acute and chronic headache conditions. Additionally, our chiropractors may recommend lifestyle modifications, such as ergonomic adjustments, stress management techniques, and exercises, to support long-term headache prevention.
Physiotherapy Care
Physiotherapy interventions such as manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, and postural correction techniques are vital in headache management. Our skilled physiotherapists at E3 Chiropractic + Wellness can help alleviate muscle tension, improve joint mobility, and correct postural imbalances that may contribute to headaches.
Furthermore, we offer targeted exercises to strengthen weak muscles and stretch tight muscles, providing long-term relief. These exercises can be easily incorporated into daily routines to maintain the progress achieved during physiotherapy sessions.
If you are experiencing neck or low back pain, E3 Chiropractic + Wellness in Saskatoon is here to help!
We will perform a thorough examination to determine if we can address your chronic headaches and give you the tools you need to get free from pain so that your body performs and feels better than you ever thought possible.