This holiday season, stop the tension headaches with the help of your physical therapist.
Holiday stress is no joke. A quick online search and Google quickly lets us know that if we’re worried about how to avoid, beat, relieve or reduce holiday stress, we are far from alone. It doesn’t help that on top of feeling stressed out, we feel guilty about how we feel! Despite cheerful music, colorful lights, festive decorations, sweet treats and the promise of fun with friends and family, the holidays are easily one of the most stressful time of the year.
The worst part of it all? That stress can lead to a seemingly endless string of tension headaches that, in our effort to embrace the joy of the season, we push painfully through. We can’t let headaches stop us after all.
We can, however, stop the headaches!
Did you know that physical therapists can provide relief from tension-type headaches by correcting the problems that cause the pain? We can’t eliminate your stress, but we can work with you to uncover any physical conditions that may be contributing to it.
According to the World Health Organization, a tension-type headache (TTH) is the most common primary headache disorder in the world, typically related to stress or associated with musculoskeletal problems in the neck.
One study published in the U.S. Library of Medicine called tension-type headaches the second-most common illness worldwide, affecting 80 to 90 percent of people at least once in their lives.
A tension headache often starts with pain or tightness at the back of the head or neck – discomfort that can spread throughout your head, and even into your eyes.
As movement experts, physical therapists can work with you to determine the likely cause of your headaches. Though often stress-induced, the underlying problem may be fatigued muscles from bad posture or a lack of strength or mobility in your neck and shoulders.
Utilizing manual therapy and prescribed stretches and exercises, your PT will customize a treatment plan designed to alleviate your headache pain and help you prevent it from coming back.
Don’t let your holiday season be dominated by nagging headaches. Schedule an assessment with a physical therapist today! Most insurance plans include direct access, so you don’t even need a doctor’s referral to get started, and we’re always happy to verify your benefits in advance. Even if you’ve never tried physical therapy before, we are confident you’ll benefit from our services, starting with your first appointment.
Don't let a headache slow you down.
Thankfully, there’s a fast, easy, effective way to get relief from holiday- and stress-related pain: neck pain and headache treatment from a licensed physical therapist. Get started with PT today!