The stresses of everyday life can build up to the point where you feel physically ill. This is what happens when you have a stress-related headache; it’s your body’s way of expressing a physical reaction to the stress.
While pain relievers can help in the short term, they will not solve the underlying problem.
Instead, contact Ohana Physical Therapy in Durango to make an appointment with one of our physical therapists to relieve your pain for good.
How can I tell if my headache is caused by stress?
One of the most common causes of stress-related headaches is obvious: stress. A headache usually occurs when the muscles in the neck or scalp tense and contract.
The daily grind is frequently the source of a stress-related headache. This type of headache is frequently triggered by everyday irritants such as sitting in traffic and putting up with minor annoyances at work.
Tensing your muscles or stiffening your shoulders can aggravate these types of headaches.
Depression and anxiety are two emotions that, like stress, can cause headaches.
Furthermore, there could be a physical cause for your stress-related headaches. Headaches can be caused by an accident or injury to the neck or back. Other potential causes include poor posture and arthritis.
The good news is that you don’t have to rely on over-the-counter medications to relieve your stress-related headaches; instead, try physical therapy.
What caused my stress-related headaches to appear?
Stress-related headaches can cause pressure, tightness, and pain in the back of the head and neck, as well as in the area around the brow. It may feel like a clamp is pressing down on your head. And there are two kinds of stress headaches.
The first type of headache is referred to as episodic tension headaches. These headaches occur on fewer than 15 days per month.
Chronic tension headaches are the second type. These happen more than 15 times per month and can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several days.
These headaches usually start gradually and in the middle of the day. Pain may subside or increase in intensity, but it is always present.
How can physical therapy help me get rid of my stress headaches?
Physical therapy is frequently the most effective treatment for stress-related headaches. Physical therapy emphasizes relaxation and prescribed exercises.
Your physical therapist can assist you in determining the source of your stress-related headaches. Your physical therapy treatment plan will almost certainly include a combination of treatment methods, such as, but not limited to:
- Exercises that strengthen and stretch the muscles in your neck can help to alleviate the stresses that cause your headaches.
- Chiropractic adjustments can help to correct skeletal misalignment problems that put your neck muscles under unnatural strain. These modifications may also aid in the reduction of headache attacks.
- Laser therapy and massage therapy can both relax tight neck tissues and hasten muscle recovery.
- Postural/ergonomic changes and corrective exercises can help you avoid “text neck” and other occupational headache triggers.
If your headaches are the result of a recent concussion, a well-managed course of physical therapy can actually help you recover from that concussion faster.
Your physical therapist can assist you in identifying additional headache triggers and strategies for avoiding them in your daily life.
A physical therapist will use hands-on manual massage and soft tissue mobilization to address the pathophysiological aspects of the stress-related headache. Both improve tissue blood flow and reduce myofascial trigger points.
To relieve the pain from stress-related headaches, a physical therapist may also use soft tissue mobilization and hands-on manual therapy.
In addition, cold and heat therapy may be included in a physical therapy treatment plan for a stress-related headache. These electronic pulse wands relieve muscle strain and provide soothing relief.
A physical therapist will frequently assess your posture in order to reduce muscle stress. They may also suggest lifestyle changes, at-home exercises, and changes to workstations at work and at home. Physical therapy seeks to address the underlying cause of your stress-related headache.
Begin working with us right away!
Do you want to know how to reduce the frequency and severity of your stress-related headaches? Contact Ohana Physical Therapy in Durango today and we’ll set up an evaluation.
Our physical therapist will also recommend a specific treatment plan to alleviate those incapacitating stress headaches. Physical therapy can help you live a pain-free life. What are you waiting for? Unlock your personalized treatment plan today!
