Auscare Physio

Healthful Hints

Headaches

A Pain in the neck

There are many people in the community who suffer from chronic headaches. It is a condition which not only causes pain and suffering but also affects quality of life.

Headaches may range from occasional mild ones to constant severe pain. For anyone who suffers from severe acute pain, it is important to rule out serious underlying causes.

This can be done by talking with your doctor and having tests to rule out any serious problems.

The most common cause of headaches however, are often related to the neck joints and muscles. Inflammation or stiffness in the neck can cause referral of pain which is then experienced as a headache.

At Auscare Physio, our physiotherapists are trained to assess and treat cervical pain and headaches. We find we get the best response by using a wide variety of treatment techniques and modalities such as joint mobilization, massage, stretching and acupuncture. It is also important to work out what is causing the headaches. They may be caused by bad posture, stress, prolonged sitting at a poorly designed workstation or simply wear and tear to the cervical joints. Trauma to the neck, such as from a motor vehicle accident, can also lead to headaches. After treating our patients to reduce their symptoms, we always teach them how to correct their posture and how to stretch and exercise to prevent the problem from recurring.

Always see your physiotherapist, local GP or other qualified health professional if pain persists.