Tension Headaches

Pain that arises from the back of the head at the base of the skull and travels up into the back of the head, scalp and along the neck is often due to a tension headache. Tension headaches are caused by tight muscles in the neck, scalp and sometimes involve the muscles of the jaw. Most often, the muscles involved have taught bands of muscle fiber that, when the muscle contracts, become irritated and the referral patterns from the tight bands or trigger points cause the pain that can occur throughout the head and neck. Activities of daily living, stress and postural discrepancies are some of the most common causes of tension headaches. They can occur at any age although are most common among adults and adolescents.

Typical tension headaches are described as feeling like a dull pain or pressure in the affected areas. The temples, scalp, back of the head and neck are often painful. Tension headaches are usually bilateral or on both sides of the body unlike migraines which are unilateral or focused on one side of the body. They can be constant and occur daily or can occur one time or a specific time of day. Tension headaches can sometimes be caused by positional changes during sleep.

Chiropractic care is a fantastic intervention for tension headaches. Chiropractic manipulation can release joints that are restricted, which in turn changes the resting tension of surrounding muscles. Soft tissue mobilization is also used to clear trigger points and taught bands in muscles that directly correlate with the affected referral patterns and regions of the head or neck.