Tension Headaches
November 4, 2015
Tension headaches are one of the most common things I see as a massage therapist, causing pain, moodiness and a general inability to function at the level you need to get everything done in your day.
The cause of tension headaches is as yet undetermined, but it’s thought to be from a build up of muscle tension in the head, neck and shoulders. Trigger points (those ‘knots’ in your muscles) can also give rise to referral pain which you feel as a headache at the base of your skull, temples, forehead, behind your eyes, etc.
What you can do: If you have no sensitivities or aversions to heat, try a microwavable flax pack on your shoulder and neck area for 20-30min, checking in regularly to ensure you have no negative reactions to the heat. **Check with a Dr. To make sure heat as a therapy is safe for you.
Seeking Treatment: Regular massage can help with maintaining and preventing tension headaches, and the focus will usually be on your upper back, head, neck and shoulders. I usually recommend an hour treatment to start off, but any amount of time can make a difference. Follow up appointments are key to staying on top of your headaches, but doing your own self care between treatments and watching posture and stress levels can help stretch out the time between appointments and even get you to the point where you can manage the tension and prevention of headaches on your own, which is always the goal. Ask your massage therapist about what you can do on your own to help reduce and prevent tension build up.
Tags: back, headache, muscles, neck, RMT, shoulders, tension, therapist, treatment
Categorized in: Massage