What are Cervicogenic Headaches? How Osteopathy Can Help
Did you know the World Health Organisation estimates that headaches affect about 50% of people globally annually? Head and neck pain is one of the most common reasons people see an Osteopath or Massage Therapist.
Headache can be debilitating and can impair your quality of life. It can lead to substantial personal suffering and expense.
There are many reasons for headaches, some caused by underlying health conditions or medications. Primary headache disorders include migraine, tension-type and cluster headache.
In addition, cervicogenic headache is recognised, where pain is referred from bony or soft tissue structures in the neck. Each of these headaches has specific characteristics which facilitate diagnosis and management.
Your Osteopath is trained to recognise these characteristics as well as how to manage them or when to refer you to other appropriate practitioners.
Cervicogenic headaches are commonly successfully managed by Osteopaths. Your Osteopath will conduct a thorough assessment to diagnose the type of headache, including a postural assessment, motion testing of the neck, back and shoulder, special orthopaedic tests and neurological testing as required.
Osteopathic manual therapy can be an essential management strategy and may include various techniques, depending on your needs.
These techniques range from gentle tissue-based approaches to joint manipulations, depending on your needs.
Your Osteopath will also often prescribe exercises, postural awareness instructions and stress or lifestyle management advice.
In short, there is help available at Chirn Park Health Group! If you or someone you know suffers from headaches, they must receive good care promptly.
