Headaches
We Treat
Our brains are strange as they are a wonder organ. What makes our heads hurt?
It’s strange that headaches even exist. The brain itself can’t feel pain, so what gives? Experts now think surrounding tissues, brain chemicals, blood vessels, and nerves produce the pain signals.
As one of Melbourne’s leading injury clinics in the northern suburbs; we provide care to all local Reservoir residents and surrounding communities including Bundoora, Rosanna, Fairfield, Watsonia, Heidelberg, Coburg, Heidelberg Heights, Macleod West, Preston, Thomastown & Thornbury.
Before our practitioners can determine the appropriate solution for your specific tension headache treatment plan, they will thoroughly assess you with standard medical, Orthopedic and special Osteopathic tests.
Our team of allied health professionals including Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Physiotherapists & Podiatrists offer professional care to address the source of your problem and pain.
Headaches are one of the most common illnesses in Australia, with around 15 per cent of us taking painkillers for a headache at any given time. Because headaches are so common, most people think they are a normal part of life. However, a persistent headache is a sign that something is wrong. The continual use of pain medication to combat headaches is akin to removing the warning light that alerts you to a problem in your car! Medication doesn’t solve your headache, it simply offers a short term solution to dull the pain.
Tension headaches are thought to be caused by ongoing contraction of the muscles in the neck and head. This type of headache often occurs with emotional distress or general stress. It often relates to poor posture and is common among desk / office workers.
Patients with a tension headache often present with widespread and diffuse pain, and often describe their symptoms as having a tight band around their head.
A full clinical assessment will need to be performed in order to determine the cause your headache and the muscles that may be specifically contributing to pain. Once these factors have been identified, your tension headache treatment plan can commence. Treatment may include:
- Massage techniques
- Myofascial release
- Thermal therapies
- Joint mobilisation / manipulation
- Dry Needling
Other Types Of Headaches:
 Cluster Headache
A cluster headache is thought to be a vascular type of headache. A cluster refers to the time – time of day, week or month. Pain is not usually throbbing like that of a migraine, it is evenly distributed.
Symptoms usually present suddenly in the mornings. Extreme local pain behind the eye may be present and can radiate to the cheeks, forehead or temple. These types of headaches may be associated with sinus problems.
In order to treat cluster headaches, your osteopath can employ a number of modalities. This can include thermal therapies, joint mobilisation or manipulation, TENS, postural assessment, Anti-inflammatory medication and can address the muscle of the upper neck and base of the skull.
