Health & Fitness
Did you know that headaches are often related to neck problems? Check out DPT's September Newsletter!
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The first few leaves are starting to fall and the days are getting shorter. Though we may not want it to be, fall is upon us; along with colorful trees, pumpkin lattes, Halloween, and brisk days.
As we get into the swing of the school year it is important for everyone, especially student athletes, to stay on top of their health and take care of any injuries. No one wants small, nagging injuries to turn into more serious problems. If there is ever any doubt about whether an injury exists, do not hesitate to give us a call and schedule a free screening.
Be sure to check out the article below about headaches and their treatment options. You may be surprised by some of the causes of headaches.
Remember, DPT is here to help. Please contact us if we can assist you or your loved ones with helpful hints, preventative care, or treatment.
Sincerely,
Aaron Kraai, PT, DPT
Doctors of Physical Therapy
Founder and CEO
Headaches: A Pain in the Neck
Audie Veloria, PT, DPT
Have you ever stepped out of bed in the morning only to be greeted with a nagging headache? Have you ever gotten through a tough and stressful day at work with pain radiating from your neck to parts of your head? Do you ever feel like these headaches and neck pains have become such a routine part of your life and you've tried everything you can to get rid of them but have been unsuccessful? Well, physical therapy can relieve your symptoms.
Headaches can be quite debilitating for some people, especially when they are frequent, chronic, and intense. They can affect our productivity at work, our concentration, and our daily functions at home. There are a variety of headaches one can experience. Two of the most common types are tension headaches and migraines. While the exact causes of these headaches are unknown, research has identified that 15% to 20% of chronic and recurrent headaches are diagnosed as 'cervical headaches' and are related to muscle and joint impairments in the neck, which can refer pain to parts of the head and face.1
Common causes of cervical headaches include faulty or sustained postures from sitting at an office desk or computer for hours during the day, leading to nerve irritation in the neck that sets off a vicious cycle simply because slouching either feels more comfortable or your postural muscles don't have the endurance to keep the head, neck, or back in neutral alignment.1 Ultimately, shortened muscles can get very tight, lengthened muscles can get very weak, and joints in the neck can get very stiff and painful, making it difficult to correct one's posture and fix these impairments.
Fortunately, physical therapists can conduct a thorough and comprehensive evaluation to identify head, neck, shoulder, and back impairments that can limit your everyday functions. They can develop individualized treatment programs to retrain muscles to achieve neutral posture, improve neck flexibility, restore pain-free neck range of motion, and provide a home exercise program to help you manage symptoms on your own.
Current research indicates that neck stretches with strengthening or endurance exercises were very effective at reducing headaches and neck pain compared to simply stretching the neck alone.2 Caution must be taken however, as these interventions should only be developed and implemented by licensed physical therapists once an evaluation has been completed.
So the next time you experience a headache, it may be related to that 'pain in the neck' you've put up with for a long time. If you would like us to help you return to a pain and headache-free livelihood, please don't hesitate to contact us. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Doctors of Physical Therapy at 1-800-974-4378 or email one of our physical therapists from our website.
1Kisner C, Colby LA. Therapeutic Exercise. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: F.A. Davis Company; 2007.
2Ylinen J et al. Effect of neck exercises on cervicogenic headache: A randomized controlled trial. J Rehabil Med. 2010; 42: 344-349.
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Doctors of Physical Therapy
2547 Plainfield/Naperville Rd.
Naperville, Illinois 60564
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