Massage for Headaches and Migraines

What Are Headaches and Migraines?

Headaches are pain and tension felt in a person's head.  Most headaches are related to muscular tension and trigger points in muscles which can refer their pain to various points on the head.  The headache pain from trigger points is very real are are sometimes resistant to oral pain relievers.

Migraines are a different type of headache.  Migraines are thought by many doctors to be caused by problems with blood vessels and nerves in the brain.   Migraines are characterized by severe pain felt on one side of the head often accompanied by sensitivity to light and sometimes nausea.  However, there is also some evidence that even severe migraines may be caused by muscular and connective tissue problems that might respond to massage therapy and bodywork.

In the trigger point illustrations above, the "X" is the approximate location of the trigger point while the red areas indicates where the pain is referred by the trigger point.  The darker red areas are the most commonly felt and intense areas of pain.  The lighter red (stippled) areas are those that are less intense or less commonly felt.  These are just a few of the trigger points which may cause headache and migraine pain - there are more.

Massage Therapy and Bodywork for Headaches and Migraines

Massage Therapy and Bodywork are very effective in the treatment of headaches and some types of Migraines.  Since the majority of headaches can be traced to muscle tension and muscular trigger points in the head, neck, and shoulders, massage and neuromuscular therapy are often able to provide complete relief.  While massage therapy treatment of headaches often concentrates on upper body musculature, it is important to know as a client that postural issues affecting your legs, hips, pelvis, and back can create the muscular tension at the root of your headaches.  Therefore, a full-body approach to treating your headaches and migraines is usually best.

In San Antonio, Texas Massage Therapy treatment for headaches and migraines is available by calling Massage By Ben at 210-269-3314.

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