How Chiropractors Can Help Ease Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches can be extremely painful and debilitating. They often cause nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.

Chiropractic treatment is one option that may help lessen the effects you suffer from this condition. Find out how chiropractic care can help ease the symptoms of migraine headaches.

Migraines and Chiropractic Treatment

You should consider chiropractic care if you're looking for a drug-free treatment option for your migraines. Experienced chiropractors use various techniques to help ease the symptoms of migraine headaches. These techniques include spinal manipulative therapy and trigger point therapy.

Spinal Manipulative Therapy

Spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) is a type of specialized chiropractic care. This non-invasive, drug-free treatment option can help ease the symptoms of migraine headaches.

Chiropractors use SMT to treat migraines by manually manipulating the spine. They use their hands to apply pressure and press against specific points on the spine. The controlled, sudden force can reduce nerve irritation and pain signals.

This spinal manipulation releases endorphins (the body's natural painkillers). So, if you suffer from frequent migraines, the endorphins released during SMT may help lessen the frequency and intensity of your migraines.

Consider this chiropractic therapy if you're looking for an alternative treatment for your migraine headaches. An experienced chiropractor will tailor the treatment to your specific needs. Oftentimes, the number of sessions will depend on the severity of your migraines.

Trigger Point Therapy

Migraines are sometimes caused by muscle tension in the neck and shoulders. When these muscles are tight, they can put pressure on the nerves. This pressure can trigger pain signals in the brain, resulting in a migraine headache.

Sometimes, the pain doesn't subside even with medication. In such cases, you may seek other forms of treatment, like trigger point therapy. Chiropractors use trigger point therapy to release muscle tension. This treatment, in turn, reduces pressure on the nerves and helps relieve pain. 

To perform trigger point therapy, your chiropractor will apply pressure to the tender muscles. During this procedure, the chiropractor stretches and massages the muscles. The pressure and massage help release muscle tension and improve blood flow. In doing so, this therapy option eases the symptoms of migraine headaches and reduces their intensity and frequency.

Trigger point therapy is a safe and effective treatment for migraines. Your chiropractor can even use it in combination with other chiropractic therapies (such as SMT) for the best results.

These are just two of the many techniques chiropractors can use to ease migraine headaches. So, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to consult with your chiropractor.