Cervicogenic Headache Massage
Some studies indicate that cervicogenic headache massage may reduce pain in headache cases. This article is here to explain how it can bring you temporary relief. We'll also cover how an alternative natural solution brings relief that lasts, without the need of repeated massage/chiropractic visits.
What is a cervicogenic headache?
A cervicogenic headache (cgh) is a type of headache that is caused by a problem in the neck. These headaches can be very painful and can make it difficult to concentrate or even carry on a conversation. Cgh pain may radiate into the shoulder or down the arm. In some cases, it may also cause nausea or vomiting.
For those looking for an alternative to injections or medicine, some of the most common treatments for cervicogenic headaches are manual therapy and massage. Manual therapy, a type of physical therapy, uses similar hands-on techniques to release tension in the muscles, ligaments, and joints.
Soft-tissue massage therapy has been shown to reduce cervicogenic headache symptoms, and improve range of motion in the neck. In addition to manual therapy and massage, other treatments such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and heat/cold therapy are sometimes used in treating cervicogenic headaches.
How Massage Relieves Pain
Cervicogenic headaches occur when excess pressure is present around the nerves of the cervical spine. By relieving muscle tightness in the neck, massage treats the soft tissue structures surrounding the cervical spine. This has been shown to both reduce pain and improve function.
But why are those muscles tight in the first place? That is because, in most all cases, there is a major source of tightness and pain within the neck: a specific mechanical issue within the lower region of the upper cervical spine.
The True Problem
Chiropractors, Physical Therapists, and other specialists all use different methods to relieve the pain caused by migraine headaches. But do any of them help long-term? What people need is someone who can solve the true problem behind headaches and migraines, without demanding an endless cycle of medications or appointments.
If you have been to any of these pain specialists, you may have seen what I am talking about. Prescribing drugs and/or shots only masks the pain temporarily; and many teach their patients to rely on an endless sequence of visits to find their relief. If you want real relief, you need someone who understands that the true origin of headaches. Within the neck region/cervical spine lies an often overlooked problem that, when fixed, not only alleviates the pain, but brings lasting relief.
Our spines are like jelly filled doughnuts. The doughnut is the spinal disc and the jelly is the gel that cushions our vertebrae. When this gel bulges out of the disk, it puts pressure on the nerves of the neck, leading to inflammation. These inflamed nerves can cause pain to travel not only to the head and face, but also into other areas of the body (causing a wide variety of symptoms such as nausea, tightness, or tingling).
This problem is often referred to as a herniated or bulging disc, and we have often found it to be present even in patients who were never diagnosed with these issues due to their inconspicuous nature.
Common Causes
One of the most common causes of cervicogenic headaches is poor sleeping posture. Bad sleeping positions are often one of the primary factors leading to a bulging disk.
Keeping the neck in the wrong position for prolonged periods of time is often a major contributing factor as well. The muscles and ligaments in our neck have to work overtime supporting the head throughout the whole day. This can also be a trigger sometimes, causing headaches to worsen as the day goes on.
Our Solution
Texas Migraine Clinic's NerveCode system treats cervicogenic headaches without the need for drugs, surgery, or massage. The individually tailored movements and exercises we use not only work to prevent disk bulges, but they can reverse the most severe cases within a matter of weeks. Treatment occurs over 1-on-1 sessions over Zoom, where we teach our clients how to relieve their own headaches and migraines, and keep them gone even after treatment is finished.
Want to See if We'd Be a Good Fit?
*No upfront charges until you are approved, and consent to treatment.
*Please take the entire survey, or we cannot review your application.
*Still have Questions? CLICK HERE to visit our Quick-Answers FAQ HelpCenter.
Easy and Lasting
Unlike massage therapy, our system is designed to target the source, resulting in lasting relief without the need for invasive or continuous relief treatments.
Our program will help you prevent pain and tension in the future. We will also teach you specific exercises designed to fix the problem for good. These exercises can be done at home or at our office, whichever is more convenient for you. Significant relief can be found in as little as a week, with full freedom usually being achieved within six visits.
If you are looking for an effective and lasting solution to your chronic headache, our system is the answer. Schedule a free consultation today to see how we can help you get your life back.
Final Thoughts
If you suffer from headaches or migraines, you know how debilitating they can be. You may have tried many different treatments, but nothing seems to provide relief. At Texas Migraine Clinic, we have successfully treated over 5,000 cases. We have a high success rate in relieving pain, even in chronic and severe cases of migraines. If you are looking for relief, we encourage you to see us over Zoom. We will work with you to find the best treatment plan for your individual needs.
-Our founder, Dr. Turner, has identified that the factors leading to cervicogenic headaches are shared with most all headache and migraine cases. This means that our system not only works with Cervicogenic headaches, but with other types of headaches as well!
Want to See if We'd Be a Good Fit?
*No upfront charges until you are approved, and consent to treatment.
*Please take the entire survey, or we cannot review your application.
*Still have Questions? CLICK HERE to visit our Quick-Answers FAQ HelpCenter.
Common Cervicogenic Headache Triggers
The same way that data analysis can help identify the risk factors for various diseases, it can also help to identify the risk for migraines and headache. By understanding which factors contribute to headaches and migraines, sufferers can take steps to reduce their risk. Additionally, it can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments for headaches and migraines. This information can then be used to refine treatment protocols and improve patient outcomes.
Similar Articles on CHM
Two studies that have been conducted on the efficacy of massage therapy for cervicogenic headaches are summarized below.
1) Massage therapies for cervicogenic headache: a systematic review
The first study, "Massage for cervicogenic headache: a systematic review" was published in 2015 in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. This study was a systematic review of the existing research on massage therapy for cervicogenic headaches. The authors searched for all randomized controlled trials that had been conducted on massage therapy for cervicogenic headaches. A total of six studies were included in the review.
The results of the review showed that massage therapy is an effective treatment for cervicogenic headaches. Massage therapy was found to be more effective than sham (fake) massage, and it was also found to be more effective than no treatment at all. The authors concluded that massage therapy is a safe and effective treatment option for cervicogenic headaches.
2) The Efficacy of Manual Therapy Techniques in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
The second study, "The Efficacy of Manual Therapy Techniques in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" was published in 2016 in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing research on manual therapy techniques (including massage) for cervicogenic headaches. The authors searched for all randomized controlled trials that had been conducted on manual therapy for cervicogenic headaches. A total of 11 studies were included in the review.
The results of the review showed that manual therapy is an effective treatment for cervicogenic headaches. Manual therapy was found to be more effective than sham (fake) manual therapy, and it was also found to be more effective than no treatment at all. The authors concluded that manual therapy, including massage, is a safe and potentially effective for cervicogenic headache relief.
Types of Massage
Swedish massage is a common type of massage. It uses long, flowing strokes to increase blood flow and oxygen to the muscles. This can help to ease muscle tension and pain.
Trigger point massage is another type of massage that can sometimes be effective. This type of massage focuses on specific points in the muscle that are known to cause pain. By applying pressure to these points, trigger point massage can help to release the knots and tension in the muscles that are causing the pain.
Related information & search terms:
Trigeminal afferents terminate in the upper cervical spine and brainstem. These Cervical afferents are excited by trigger points in the muscles they innervate as well as by input from deep structures such as the vertebral joints, facet joints, intervertebral discs, and dura mater. The resulting pain is frequently referred to other areas, producing a wide variety of seemingly unconnected symptoms.
The recurring frequency of a severe headache makes many people look for an intervention. Evidence indicates that a combination of manual therapy and exercise can help relieve pain in the neck muscles and shoulders. A clinical study done on chm found that that the treatment group could reduce tension and neck pain with significant effectiveness.
The data quality in the search results for a clinical study on cgh pain is quite high, though a more detailed clinical study might still provide evidence on using a combination of exercise and massage to inprove range of motion in the neck and spine to improve range of motion and reduce the frequency of cgh pain as a replacement for medicine
As opposed to physical therapy or massage, Texas Migraine Clinics NerveCode system is an exercise-based intervention that allows a vast reduction in neck, head and body pain, resulting in better quality of life without the need for intervention with potentially harmful medicine.
The randomized controlled trial is a type of clinical study that uses a comparison of at least two groups of randomly selected participants (the experimental group & the control group). These are considered to offer more quality evidence when compared to any other methods of conducting a clinical trial. Many people like to search for or site these studies in order to collect data on improving head, body, or neck pain through the use of medicine or alternative treatments. When trying to search for these, it is important to note whether their inclusion criteria and study protocol resulted in data that is sufficient to draw a specific conclusion.
Other alternative treatments are sometimes used but were not covered in this article. These include methods such as dry needling and post-isometric relaxation.
Improving symptoms are a common theme among the general population assessed in a randomized controlled trial using massage and manual therapy A quick search for a clinical trial on massage will show that there is efficacy to short-term relief using this approach.
The international headache society classifies headaches as belonging to many different forms including the cervicogenic headache (cgh). In the search for a clinical trial, it becomes clear that head and neck pain can be reduced effectively without medicine through mechanical manipulation of the muscles and/or joints in the neck.
Visit our homepage to learn more: https://www.texasmigraineclinic.com
Studies Mentioned:
Manual therapies for cervicogenic headache: a systematic review - PMC (nih.gov)
Effectiveness of manual therapy in the treatment of cervicogenic headache: A systematic review
