Headaches alone are common, and one out of six people find themselves dealing with them. However, migraines affect more than 39 million Americans a year. What’s the difference? It’s all in the level of severity.
Migraines often leave a person with severe throbbing, pulsing sensations, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound, which can completely disrupt their day and responsibilities. There are a number of reasons why a person may get a migraine, such as stress or a lack of sleep. Oftentimes over-the-counter solutions may not be enough.
If you are dealing with migraines frequently, P3 Physical Therapy can help. With a multi-faceted personalized approach, we can help you find relief from migraines. Call us at (915) 444-5200 or contact us online to learn more about our techniques.
Dry Needling
A buildup of tension is a common side effect of migraines, often experienced in the neck and shoulders. Dry needling, which introduces solid needles to the skin, is used to stimulate trigger points or knots in areas of tension within the muscle tissue. Releasing tension in these areas can offer relief and reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines.
A licensed therapist can guide you safely through the process over a short period, releasing discomfort with each needle insertion. Results can be seen within 1-2 sessions, though they may vary depending on the severity and condition of your migraines.
Manual Therapy
Prior to treatment, patients’ migraine symptoms must first be evaluated by the palpation of their neck and skull, neck range of motion, strength, and postural assessment. All of which can contribute to the frequency and intensity of the pain.
Manual therapy is a hands-on method to work through these symptoms through skilled hand and passive movements of the joints and soft tissues. This technique is used to massage and trigger point release, which helps reduce muscle tension and alleviate pain. At P3 Physical Therapy, manual therapy is a part of our migraine headache treatment.
Exercise
One of the most common and essential recommendations for migraine treatment is exercise. By exercising, you’re helping to increase the blood flow to your brain and reduce stress. Both are major factors that contribute to migraines. Similarly, a physical therapist can provide specific and slow-moving exercises to help alleviate tension and improve a patient’s range of motion in the neck and shoulders. Examples of exercises that can help are neck rotations and side bending.
Education
There are many causes of migraines, and many can be easily identified and adjusted. Like exercise, there are many ways to alleviate the pain before needing medication.
Through education, physical therapists can teach migraine patients how to identify certain triggers like diet, stimuli, and sleep and identify symptoms to prevent a migraine from worsening.
Find Release by Working with Our Team of Licensed Physical Therapists in El Paso
Whether you experience migraines frequently or occasionally, you don’t have to put up with the discomfort. We understand that everyone is different, so not everyone will require the same treatment. Our experienced therapists will work with you to tailor a recovery plan best suited to your experience. Give us a call at (915) 444-5200 or contact us online to schedule an appointment and live pain-free.
