Occasional headaches are a part of life that may result from tension or dehydration. Usually, you can treat these kinds of headaches by rehydrating, resting and with some simple home remedies.

However, long-lasting, frequently recurring and severe headaches, known as migraines, are more intense and usually require professional healthcare treatment. Some people take medications for migraines, but these don’t always help. That’s why many people choose to visit a physical therapist for migraine treatment.

Treating migraines with physical therapy

Physical therapists have many different techniques for treating headaches and migraines. The techniques a physical therapist will use for your migraine depends on what triggers it. This may include:

• Neck pain — Neck pain is a common trigger for occasional headaches or migraines. Strain and pain in the neck muscles can spread into your skull and put pressure on your head. Physical therapists try to reduce this pain by strengthening and stretching the neck muscles and soft tissue. This may keep the neck from triggering migraines in the future.
  
• Jaw pain — The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) that connect your jaw to your skull are located very close to your ear. Inflammation in the TMJ can create pain that stems throughout the rest of your head.
  
  Physical therapists can improve the condition of your TMJ with exercises and joint mobilization techniques. Grinding your teeth can be a cause of TMJ pain, so a mouthguard might be prescribed to wear while you sleep to prevent TMJ from triggering migraines.
  
  
• Tension headaches — Tension headaches are often classified as migraines when they’re severe enough or recur frequently. These are usually caused by stress and feel like someone is squeezing your head.
  

Physical therapists can treat tension headaches by promoting the relaxation of the muscles in your neck and head. The goal is to reduce the physical symptoms of stress by exercising these muscles and mobilizing the joints and soft tissue in your face and neck.

Visit Franklin Rehabilitation for migraine treatment

Chronic head pain can make it difficult to get through each day of your life. If you suffer from migraines and recurring headaches, you should talk to a physical therapist at Franklin Rehabilitation about treatment. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.