Headaches are one of the most common chronic pain conditions in the country. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), about 4% of the U.S. population experiences chronic daily headaches. With a total U.S. population of about 329.4 million, this means that more than 13 million Americans are dealing with this issue today. It’s not hard to imagine that some of those people are living right here in Ada, Michigan. If you fall into this group, there are two reasons you should consider seeking physical therapy for your headaches.
1. Physical therapy can treat the root cause of headaches
Often, non-physical therapy treatment of chronic headaches revolves around medication. However, medication can only treat the symptoms of headaches. Physical therapy can be used to target the root cause of chronic head pain.
For example, tight neck and shoulder muscles are a common cause of daily headaches. This is especially true for people who spend hours every day hunched over a laptop or cell phone. Physical therapists can help stretch these muscles. They can also help teach you these stretches so you can use them every day. Physical therapy can also treat other headache root causes like spine-based sports injuries, work injuries and car accident injuries.
2. There are many physical therapy techniques that can treat headaches
Another reason you should consider trying physical therapy to treat chronic headaches is the number of techniques used. Most physical therapy-based treatment plans use multiple techniques. Each of them is designed to help in a different way.
For instance, manual therapy techniques like soft tissue mobilization can help reduce tension in your neck and shoulder muscles. Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) can also help reduce headache-causing muscles tension. However, this technique is used to target muscle tension that doesn’t respond to hand movements alone. To increase blood flow, cupping can be used to lift the skin and reduce pressure on blood vessels. Using the right combination of these and other techniques, physical therapists can build you a treatment plan designed to reduce head pain and decrease headache frequency.
Where can you find physical therapy for headaches in Ada, MI?
If you’re looking for headache physical therapy in Ada, look no further than Advent Physical Therapy. Our team has a clinic in Ada that’s ready to help you treat your headaches, injuries and medical conditions. We can effectively treat many issues thanks to our personalized therapy plans that are designed to benefit you by:
- Reducing pain
- Stretching tight muscles
- Strengthening weak muscles
- Improving blood flow
Contact our team today if you’re ready to schedule an initial appointment and begin treating your chronic headaches with physical therapy.