Chiropractic Treats Headaches Caused from Neck Tension

Some of the worst headaches begin from the neck.  These tension headaches pulsate, tighten, and never seem to go away.  At Ribley Family Chiropractic in Woodstock, GA, we treat many of our clients for tension headaches and neck pain.  We believe that headaches and neck pain are treatable, and preventable.

Did you know that there is a thin layer of muscle in between your skull and your skin?  Most of the time, this thin layer of muscle maintains a normal resting muscle tone.  However, when muscle tension hits, our patients feel the effects which lead to the tension headaches.  Typically, this muscle tension is caused by stress.  The stress can be caused by many different elements, whether at home or work.  Often times, work is the factor behind the stress.  Try to identify what is making you stressed at work.  If you stare at a computer screen all day, or work in an office with florescent lighting, you may spend much of your time squinting or furrowing your brow.  Many of our patients find that their tension headaches come from their day to day work habits, and not necessarily a stressful event.

Your skull is not the only muscle that causes tension headaches.  Your neck and upper back may also cause tension headaches.  These types of headaches are also very common.  What causes these types of headaches?  Well, there is a thin layer of muscle that connects the top vertebra in your neck to the base of your skull.  Stress or injury, like whiplash, can cause the muscle in the neck to tighten and spasm.  The muscle tension can lead to back pain, neck pain, and muscle tension headaches.

Other common causes of tension headaches include a lack of sleep, poor posture, hunger, or even overexertion.

How do you find relief from tension headaches and neck pain?

Relief from your headaches can come from a few different types of treatments.  An ice pack applied to the back of the head or neck for 20 minute sessions will help remove inflammation and calm the nerves.  Natural relaxation techniques can help you conquer your tension headaches at home or in the office as well.

Headaches caused by muscle tension can also be a result of misalignment of the vertebra in the neck.  Minor misalignment can be the root cause of muscle spasms and pain the create the tension headache.  Chiropractic adjustments help realign vertebra that cause tension headaches.  Your chiropractor should sit down with you, and draw up a treatment program.  Chiropractic treatment for tension headaches is a great, natural way of finding relief at the source of the problem.  Contact your Woodstock, GA chiropractor to learn more.

Have you ever suffered from tension headaches? What sets off the muscle tension for you? Leave a comment!

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