Chiropractic Beats Massage for Cervicogenic Headaches

We see a great number of people with headaches in our North County St. Louis, MO office, and Dr. Holland has been able to assist many of them. For that matter, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one half of all adults have difficulty with some type of headache disorder, so this certainly isn't unexpected. One of the most common types of headaches which our patients are afflicted with is cervicogenic headache which, happily, chiropractic treatment can often help.

Cervicogenic Headaches Defined

A cervicogenic headache is one that comes from issues in the cervical spine. It can be attributable to a condition with either the spine itself (particularly, the vertebrae, joints, or discs), or it can be a result of a problem in the muscles and tendons of your neck. This problem in your spine can cause compaction or irritation of the spinal nerves, which can give you headache pain.

How do you identify if the headache you are being affected by is a cervicogenic headache? Besides receiving a diagnosis from a healthcare specialist, a typical symptom of cervicogenic headaches is tenderness or pain in your neck. This is occasionally accompanied by pain in the back of your head or between your shoulder blades.

How Chiropractic Helps

Considering cervicogenic headaches will not subside until whatever problem is causing them is remedied, it is crucial to get treatment instead of just trying to "wait it out." Chiropractic care is an excellent solution, and one that offers a considerable amount of headache pain relief.

In one study reported in Chiropractic & Osteopathy, specialists looked at 80 people who had recurring cervicogenic headaches. Fifty percent received chiropractic care and the other 50% underwent light massage therapy. Each participant was assessed 12 and 24 weeks after the treatment and it was discovered that chiropractic offered the best results.

Specifically, this study noted that chiropractic adjustments provided patients better pain relief and reduced the number of headaches that occurred. On top of that, it also reduced the disability that resulted from these painful headaches.

To find out what Dr. Holland can do for you and your headaches, call our office today. We'll do our best to get you the pain relief you deserve!

References

• Haas M, Schneider M, Vavrek D. Illustrating risk difference and number needed to treat from a randomized controlled trial of spinal manipulation for cervicogenic headache. Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2010 18(9).
• World Health Organization. (2012, October). Headache disorders. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs277/en/