Numerous research studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments are very effective for treating headaches, especially headaches that originate in the neck.

A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that “spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than commonly prescribed medications.” These findings support an earlier study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics that found spinal manipulative therapy to be very effective for treating tension headaches. This study also found that those who stopped chiropractic treatment after four weeks continued to experience a sustained benefit in contrast to those patients who received pain medication.

Overview

Each individual’s case is different and requires a thorough evaluation before a proper course of treatment can be determined. In a broad sense, headaches are either musculoskeletal in origin (ex tension headaches) or internally triggered. Headaches can present with very similar symptoms no matter how they start. Treatment can vary though, based upon the type of headache. In musculoskeletal headaches, either joint alignment restrictions or muscle tension are the cause. The goal with treatment is to correct the underlying musculoskeletal issues. With internally triggered headaches the process is a little different. The headache can be directly treated to try and reduce symptoms the same way as a musculoskeletal headache. However, the ultimate goal is to try and discover the trigger to stop the headache from recurring. This might require diagnostic testing or lifestyle modification.

Treatment

A variety of treatments can be useful depending on the specific case. Ultimately, your doctor will work with you to determine the best combination of treatments. No matter what combination is used, chiropractic care for headaches has been proven to be safe and effective. Available treatments include:

• Chiropractic Adjustments
• Ultrasound
• Low Level Laser
• Frequency Specific Microcurrent
• Acupuncture