Chiropractic and Cervicogenic Headache

Lincoln Chiropractic Care Beats Massage for Cervicogenic Headaches

We see a large number of people with headaches in our Lincoln office, and Dr. Jerrad Swanson, DC, FMT, DN1 has been able to support many of them. Actually, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that half of all adults have difficulties with some kind of headache problems, so this really isn't shocking. One of the most typical types of headaches which our patients suffer from is cervicogenic headache which, fortunately, chiropractic therapy can often help.

Cervicogenic Headaches Explained

A cervicogenic headache is one that stems from a problem in the cervical spine. It might be thanks to an issue with either the spine itself (primarily, the vertebrae, joints, or discs), or it might be due to a problem in the muscles and tendons of your neck. This problem in your spine can cause compaction or aggravation of the spinal nerves, which can give you headache pain.

How do you know if the headache you are struggling with is a cervicogenic headache? Besides getting a diagnosis from a healthcare expert, a typical symptom of cervicogenic headaches is tenderness or pain in your neck. This is occasionally followed by pain in the back of your head or between your shoulder blades.

How Chiropractic Helps with Cervicogenic Headaches

Because cervicogenic headaches will not subside until whatever issue is causing them is remedied, it is critical 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 published in Chiropractic & Osteopathy, researchers looked at 80 people who had repeated cervicogenic headaches. Half got chiropractic care and the other half underwent light massage therapy. Each participant was assessed 12 and 24 weeks after the procedures and it was found that chiropractic delivered the optimum results.

Specifically, this study found that chiropractic adjustments gave patients better pain relief and lessened the number of headaches that occurred. Furthermore, it also lessened the disability that resulted from these painful headaches.

To find out what Dr. Jerrad Swanson, DC, FMT, DN1 can do for you and your headache pain, call us 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/