Headaches are a common source of pain for many people, and they can be so severe that people are unable to function normally at work or at home while having a headache episode. Not each headache is the same for each person, and a wide variety of headache classifications exist. Of the many different types of headaches, the three most common are migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cervicogenic headaches. Dr. Ross and his team of healthcare professionals here at Excellence in Health Chiropractic frequently diagnose and treat patients who are suffering from headaches. The specific treatment prescription for each type of headache is different, with the treatment focus often including nutritional and lifestyle modifications in addition to manual therapy, physiotherapies and therapeutic exercises. It is therefore critical to have a proper headache diagnosis before starting a therapeutic plan.

Cervicogenic headaches are one of the three most common types of headaches and are often seen in patients also suffering from neck pain and upper back pain. Many people do not realize that their neck and/or back pain can also be the cause of debilitating headaches. The Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) define the cervicogenic headache as a "headache caused by a disorder of the cervical spine and its component bony, disc and/or soft tissue elements, usually but not invariably accompanied by neck pain." This means that the nerves around the joints and the muscles of the neck and back can cause referred pain that is perceived as a headache by patients (The international Classification of Headache Disorders: 3^rd Edition, 2013). Diagnosis of this condition is made by taking a detailed history and performing an exam that includes orthopedic tests that allow Dr. Ross to make the right diagnosis and identify the cause of your headaches.

Chiropractic treatment of cervicogenic headaches is safe and effective. A recent study published in the journal "BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders" compares the effects of chiropractic adjustments with standard therapeutic care and found that chiropractic adjustments were by far more effective. They found that patients receiving eight sessions of neck and upper back adjustments had greater reductions in pain severity and disability than the group receiving standard care. Patients receiving adjustments also reported fewer headaches and shorter headaches than patients that did not receive adjustments. The chiropractic adjustment group was found to still have fewer, shorter and less severe headaches at a 3-month follow-up, with half of patients reporting a 100% reduction in pain and/or disability. Patients that received chiropractic adjustments also reported that they were more satisfied with their course of treatment than the group receiving standard care (Dunning et al., 2016). Dr. Ross and his team here at Excellence in Health Chiropractic look forward to serving your healthcare needs and continuing to be a leader in quality healthcare. If you're suffering from chronic headaches, don't hesitate to call and make an appointment with us today. Take charge of your health and get back to living the life you deserve; and as always, we wish you excellence in health.

Resources:

• Dunning, J. Butts, R. Mourad, F. Young, I. Penas, C. Hagins, M. Stanislawski, T. Donley, J. Buck, D. Hooks, T. Cleland, J. (2016). Upper cervical and upper thoracic manipulation versus mobilization and exercise in patients with cervicogenic headache: a multi-center randomized clinical trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 17:64.
• The International Classification of Headache Disorders: 3rd Edition. (2013). Cephalalgia, 33(9):629-808.

Link to Abstract:

• • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26852024