What can help you find relief from stress-related headaches?

Shortening your workday. Making your grandchildren’s visits much less enjoyable. These are just a few ways that headaches can affect your daily life. 

Unfortunately, it’s far too likely that you’ve experienced a headache. Medical research shows that about half of the U.S. population has at least one headache per year. Often, headaches are caused by prolonged periods of stress. Our physical therapists can help you find effective treatment for stress-related headaches. 

What are stress-related headaches?

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache in adults and older teens. They often appear as a result of:

• Poor posture
• Increased stress
• Neck or jaw problems
• Fatigue
• Cervical arthritis

It’s possible to experience them when feeling anxious, depressed or stressed. They occur when the neck and scalp muscles contract or become tense, and they can happen at any age.

Stress-related headaches generally start at the back of the head and progress to the top of the head and eyes. Sometimes, facial pain along the jaw and cheeks accompanies the headache. They have been compared to wearing a tight hat, having hair pulled or a squeezing of the head from the ears inward.

How can a physical therapist treat stress-related headaches?

Your physical therapist will conduct a thorough evaluation of your health history and a careful physical examination. He or she will ask you a series of questions to determine the type of headache you’re experiencing and determine the best route for pain relief.

During your first visit, you can expect to undergo some of the following:

• Tests of your muscle strength and sensation
• Questions regarding previous injuries to your neck, head, jaw and back
• Inquiries about the location and types of pain and other symptoms experienced
• Measurements regarding the range of motion of your shoulders, neck and other relevant parts of the body
• Manual therapy to ascertain the mobility of joints and muscles in your neck
• Examination of your posture while engaged in different activities

If your physical therapist determines that you’re dealing with stress-related headaches, you’ll work together to develop a plan for care to meet your physical health goals. If the evaluation determines you have a different type of headache, your physical therapist may refer you to a different type of health care professional.

Find stress-related headache therapy at Peak Performance

Tired of living with stress-related headaches? Our team at Peak Performance is ready to help you find effective treatment for them. We offer free screenings designed to reveal the root cause of your headaches. Our team also excels at constructing personalized therapy plans intended to reduce your symptoms and headache frequency. You can even begin using our therapy services without first getting a doctor’s referral. 

Contact us today for more information about how we can help treat your headaches or to schedule an initial appointment.