There they are. Those odd lines or lights in your vision. Your head also feels fuzzy, and it’s harder to think about anything. You’re even feeling tingling and numbness in your face and hands. 

People who experience this combination of symptoms are likely to have a migraine soon after they appear. This head condition typically involves intense head pain that often leaves sufferers unable to do normal daily activities. Migraines also tend to cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and light and sound sensitivity. Unfortunately, Americans are far too likely to experience a migraine. One medical study found that 1 in every 6 Americans had a migraine over a three-month period. 

Physical therapy can be a beneficial treatment option for your migraines. However, you might want to have some idea of what to expect during your initial physical therapy session for migraines. 

Three steps that are often involved in initial physical therapy sessions for migraines: 

1. Your physical therapist asking about your medical history — It is possible for a migraine to be a one-off occurrence. However, sufferers tend to have a history of migraines. Asking about your medical history allows your physical therapist to establish if you fit into this second category. Also, this information can help them identify triggering factors for your migraines. 

2. Your neck being examined — A common root cause of many migraines and headaches is a neck issue, and there is a whole category of migraines known as cervicogenic, or neck-based, migraines. If your physical therapist asks if your migraine pain tends to start on one side of your upper neck, they may suspect that you have cervicogenic migraines. They’ll also examine your neck to see what neck issues may be triggering your migraines. 

3. Your physical therapist creating a treatment plan for you — After gathering as much information as possible about your migraines, your physical therapist will create a treatment plan that fits your needs. This plan may contain various PT methods. Some of the PT techniques your plan may include are: 

• Soft tissue mobilization that can help relieve neck muscle tension. 
• Therapeutic exercises that can stretch and strengthen your neck muscles. 
• Deep breathing techniques that can help reduce stress. 

Find top-notch physical therapy for migraines at Franklin Rehab

Determined to get a handle on your migraines? Our physical therapy team at Franklin Rehabilitation is ready and willing to help treat your migraines. We offer free screenings that can help you begin your PT with us. Furthermore, our team excels at building individualized treatment plans for migraines and headaches. 

Contact our team today for more information about the services we offer for migraines or to schedule your initial appointment.