Headaches and Chiropractic Care: What You Should Know

It starts as a dull band across your forehead around mid-afternoon. By the time you're driving home, it's sitting behind your eyes. You've had a coffee, a glass of water and a couple of tablets, and you're still counting the hours until you can lie down.

If that sounds like your week, you're not alone. Headaches are one of the most common reasons people miss work, cancel plans or simply push through the day feeling flat. This article explains the main types of headache, what a chiropractor looks at, and when you should see your GP before anyone else.

Not all headaches are the same

Knowing what kind of headache you get is the first step, because the right approach depends on the type.

Tension-type headaches are the most common. They usually feel like pressure or tightness on both sides of the head, across the forehead or at the back of the skull. Stress, poor sleep, long hours at a screen and tight neck and shoulder muscles are frequent companions.

Cervicogenic headaches start in the neck. The pain often begins at the base of the skull on one side and spreads forward towards the temple or eye. Many people notice it's worse with certain neck movements or after holding one position for a long time.

Migraines are a different condition again, often with throbbing pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. We cover migraines in their own article: Migraines: patterns, triggers and where chiropractic fits.

Common contributors to everyday headaches

For many people, a few everyday habits stack up:

• Desk and screen posture. Hours with the head forward and shoulders rounded place extra load on the muscles and joints at the top of the neck.
• Stress and jaw clenching. Tension often shows up in the jaw, neck and shoulders without you noticing.
• Poor or broken sleep. Both too little sleep and an awkward pillow position can leave you waking up with a sore head.
• Dehydration and skipped meals. Simple, but easy to overlook on a busy day.
• Neck stiffness after injury. An old whiplash or sports knock can leave the upper neck stiff for years.

What a chiropractor looks at

At your first visit, your chiropractor will start with a detailed history: when the headaches started, how often they happen, what they feel like, and anything that seems to set them off. They'll also check for warning signs that need medical attention.

From there, a physical examination looks at how your neck moves, how your upper back and shoulders are working, your posture, and whether pressing on certain muscles or joints reproduces your familiar headache.

If your headaches appear to be linked to your neck and posture, your chiropractor will explain what they've found and talk you through the options. Care may include:

• Gentle spinal adjustments or mobilisation for the neck and upper back
• Soft tissue work for tight muscles around the neck, shoulders and jaw
• Simple exercises to build strength and endurance in the neck and upper back
• Practical advice on workstation setup, sleep position and breaks from screens

Research suggests that manual therapy and exercise may be helpful for some people with tension-type and cervicogenic headaches, although results vary from person to person. Your chiropractor will be upfront about what's reasonable to expect and will review how you're going as you go.

Many people also find remedial massage a useful addition for tight neck and shoulder muscles. You can read more about remedial massage at Vitality.

When to see your GP first

Most headaches aren't dangerous, but some need urgent medical assessment. See your GP or go to an emergency department if you have:

• A sudden, severe headache that feels like the worst of your life
• A headache after a head injury
• Headache with fever, a stiff neck, rash, confusion or drowsiness
• New weakness, numbness, slurred speech or changes in vision
• A new headache pattern after age 50, or headaches that are steadily getting worse

Your chiropractor will screen for these signs and refer you on if anything needs medical investigation.

Things you can try today

• Set a reminder to stand up and move every 30–45 minutes at your desk.
• Raise your screen so the top is roughly at eye level.
• Keep a simple headache diary: time, what you were doing, sleep, food and stress. Patterns often jump out after a couple of weeks.
• Drink water regularly through the day, not just when you feel thirsty.

Book an assessment

If headaches are cutting into your work, your sleep or your time with family, it's worth finding out what's contributing. Learn more about headache care at Vitality Chiropractic, or book online at our Yokine clinic.

This article is general information only and isn't a substitute for individual advice from a registered health practitioner.