Medical massage Treatments -Headaches

Headaches

Definitions: Pain in and around the head.
Types of:

Migraines

Tension

Sinus

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Cluster

Causes:

Migraines: mostly unknown (by medical community), cranial circulation problem, misalignment of neck vertebrae, food or chemical sensitivities (environmental), hormonal changes (female, thyroid), blood sugar imbalances

Tension: muscle spasm, TMJ problems, neck alignment

Sinus: allergies (can be food, pollen, etc.), bacterial or viral, neck misalignments

Trigeminal Neuralgia - 5th Cranial Nerve irritation

Signs/Symptoms:

Migraines: bilateral or unilateral pain, pain mild to severe lasting for hours or days, nausea, vomiting, distorted or blurred vision, sensitive to light and sound, cold extremities

Tension: pain, referred pain, muscle spasm and tension, triggerpoints, duration 1 hour to 1 day, TMJ, frontal, temporal and occipital regions often affected

Sinus: pressure around eyes, nose, cheeks or back of head, congestion, excess mucous,

Trigeminal Neuralgia -triggerpoints in face, lips, tongue, jaw, more common in older people (50+)

Treatment Goals:

be aware of clients tolerance: may need dark room, soft touch depending on stage and type of headache

decompress neck, facial bones, occipital area

massage may sometimes cause headache to become worse

most kinds of headaches can be relieved by working the back of the neck, occipital area, SCM, upper back, trapezius, levator scapula.

treat triggerpoints on top of head, back of head, neck

ice to back of neck, forehead; heat to feet/hands.

traction to neck

Other helpful therapies: Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Cranio-sacral, Naturopathy to detoxify and eliminate foods/chemicals
Possible Triggers Include:
cheese

chocolate

dairy products

bananas

alcohol

sensitivities to wheat

caffeine

Touch Research Institute :

Migraine Headaches
Massage therapy decreased the occurrence of headaches, sleep disturbances and distress symptoms and increased serotonin levels in adults with migraine headaches.
Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Dieter, J., Swerdlow. & Diego, M., (1998). Migraine headaches were reduced by massage therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience, 96, 1-11.
R E S E A R C H Massage Magazine report :Massage Reduces Headache Frequency

Massage Therapy for Tension Headaches Pilot Study Concludes Massage Therapy Foundation News

Headache Remedy: Results of Trager Approach Research

Somatic Research By Shirley Vanderbilt Massage and Bodywork Magazine

The Dual Concept Massage Approach to Headaches The Institute for Integrative Healthcare Studies

Fewer Migraines with Massage Therapy Bastyr University

Massage Therapy and Frequency of Chronic Tension Headaches

Christopher Quinn, DC, Clint Chandler, BS, and Albert Moraska, PhD Pub Med
Handling Headaches A Specialist's Self-Care Program By Jan Mundo Massage and Bodywork Magazine

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