Research has shown that somewhere in the region of 37 million Americans suffer regularly from headaches - and luckily, massage is here to help! Headaches, however, can present in a whole host of shapes and sizes, so let’s take a look at a few of the types we tend to encounter.
Tension Headaches : A typically mild and common for of headache, tension headaches last generally 30 minutes to an hour and are normally felt on both sides of the head. There are three main types - Infrequent Episodic (one or less headaches per month), Frequent Episodic ( Between one and fifteen per month), and Chronic (More than fifteen per month). They can be caused by muscle tightness, eye strain, postural imbalance amongst other things.
Vascular Headaches : These headaches are typically more severe than a tension headache and a ‘pounding’ sensation is a common feature. The cause of vascular headaches is not currently understood well. There are four main types - Classic Migraine (Pain with aura or flashing lights/blurred vision, can be accompanied by muscle weakness or speech difficulties), Aura-Less Common Migraine (throbbing pain on one side of the head with nausea, light sensitivity, can last several hours to several days), Cluster Headaches (often occur during the night or seasonally, generally starts in or around one eye then moves to the rest of the head, can last 15 mins to three hours and occur every day), and Sinus Headaches (believed to be cause by too much sinus pressure in the head, can include pain in forehead, cheekbones or nose)
Traction Inflammatory Headaches : A more rare form of headache, these tend to be caused by meningitis or a stroke and can be accompanied by slurred speech or numbness, difficulty moving.
Two massage techniques that can be effective in reducing symptoms of the above are Deep tissue massage, which uses slow and moderate to firm pressure to release tense or strained muscles that may be the cause of headaches. Deep gliding strokes applied to the face, jaw and neck with firm pressure helps with pain affecting specific areas of the head. Another technique which can help is trigger-point therapy which uses directly applied pressure to specific points in the head and neck to find and release the restricted block wherever it may be.
One thing that should always be taken into consideration with headaches is self care. Since stress is a known major factor in headaches we should also consider the things we can do for ourselves to avoid it, or at least reduce or manage it. Techniques like getting good sleep, hydrating, being mindful of screentime, good diet, and proper posture can all help to keep headaches at bay. By practicing the above you may be able to stop a headache before it even starts!
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