Headaches? Listen Up!

One of the most common reasons people come to a see a chiropractor is for headaches. Primary headaches, including tension type headaches, cluster headaches, and migraines, has been reported in up to 3% of the general population with a female predominance. (1)
 
A new study out of Denmark has looked into how chiropractic care can help our kids aged 7-14 with headaches. This study found significantly fewer days with headaches and a better global perceived effect with chiropractic care. This is in line with previous research in the adult population, where it is found that chiropractic management produced more pronounced favourable outcomes in frequency of headaches than intensity of headaches. (2)
 
We are also often asked what is causing headaches or migraines in our patients, and the answer is not simple as many different things can be the cause. One of the more common conditions to present to us is neck pain causing headaches and migraines(cervicogenic), and chiropractic has good evidence in the management of neck disorders. (3-5)
 
A recent literature review found evidence suggesting that cervical dysfunction need to be considered in the prevention of migraines. There is, however, still more research needed to explain the association between neck pain and migraines.
 
So if you, or one of you young ones is struggling with headaches or migraines, come on in to one of our practices and see what we can do to help you live you best life possible.
 

1. Chaibi, A., & Russell, M. B. (2014). Manual therapies for primary chronic headaches: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. The journal of headache and pain, 15(1), 1-8.
2. Lynge, S., Dissing, K. B., Vach, W., Christensen, H. W., & Hestbaek, L. (2021). Effectiveness of chiropractic manipulation versus sham manipulation for recurrent headaches in children aged 7–14 years-a randomised clinical trial. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, 29(1), 1-13.
3. Bronfort, G., Evans, R., Anderson, A. V., Svendsen, K. H., Bracha, Y., & Grimm, R. H. (2012). Spinal manipulation, medication, or home exercise with advice for acute and subacute neck pain: a randomized trial. Annals of internal medicine, 156(1_Part_1), 1-10.
4. Bryans, R., Decina, P., Descarreaux, M., Duranleau, M., Marcoux, H., Potter, B., ... & White, E. (2014). Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with neck pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 37(1), 42-63.
5. Antonia, G. C. (2014). Efficacy of manual and manipulative therapy in the perception of pain and cervical motion in patients with tension-type headache: a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Journal of chiropractic medicine, 13(1), 4-13.
6. Aoyama, N. (2020). Involvement of cervical disability in migraine: a literature review. British Journal of Pain, 2049463720924704.