Headaches
According to the World Health Organisation headache is the most common neurological condition affecting the adult population. It is a painful problem that is responsible for millions of hours of lost productivity worldwide. The causes of headache are numerous and can include simple things like not getting enough sleep or not drinking enough water.
Some headaches are musculoskeletal in nature and arise from neck tension and work posture, leaning over a desk and peering at a computer screen can cause a headache as easily as swinging a hammer or laying concrete all day. Holding a phone handset between your ear and your shoulder for any length of time is a sure fire way to give yourself a zinger.
Occasionally headaches will be caused by something more sinister like a progressive neurological disorder or a tumour and these should be differentiated from other kinds of headache by a healthcare professional for further treatment.
Headaches that occur following a neck or shoulder strain, that are worst after a long day at work or those that are improved by simple analgesics like ibuprofen (think advil, nurofen and voltaren) may be musculoskeletal in nature and could respond well to manual therapies.
If you have a headache that is bothering you should consult your healthcare professional. Chiropractors, acupuncturists, physiotherapists and some massage therapists are trained to differentiate between the myriad causes of headache and may be able to get to the root of why some headaches keep returning.
Hi, I’m Michael; Chiropractor, Dad, science enthusiast, active weightlifter and keen sportsman. I work with busy and active people who are struggling with pain to find relief from their symptoms so that they can return to an active lifestyle, get through their work day and their workouts without having to pop a pill so that they can feel happier and healthier in their body.
