How Can Chiropractic Help with Headaches?

Two of the most common conditions involving the head that chiropractors are recruited to treat are: TMJ syndrome and headaches.
The TMJ is where the jaw bone connects to the head. It is also called the temporomandibular joint. Since it is a moveable, functional structure, any misalignment or restriction in this joint can cause pain in and around the jaw, ear or head.
After assessing your jaw for dysfunction, we may apply chiropractic adjustments to the TMJ in order to restore proper function. Whenever you feel your jaw clicking or popping, or have pain on opening or closing your mouth, usually your TMJ is involved.
Another common condition affecting the head is the collection of symptoms referred to as headaches, including migraines, tension-type headaches, cervicogenic headaches, cluster headaches and so on.
Since irritation of the brain itself does not result in pain (open-brain surgery has proven this to be true), “aching” in the head can only be caused by the irritation of a number of other pain-sensitive tissues. Muscles, nerves, joints or ligaments are all examples of potential sources for head pain.
Muscles
The most common type of headache is the tension-type headache. It represents approximately 90 percent of all headaches and is described as a generalized tightness and ‘achiness’ around the head. The cause of tension-type headaches is thought to be tightness in the muscles of the neck and scalp.
Chiropractic adjustments are very helpful in reducing the frequency and intensity of tension-type headaches, because joints that move easier and have better alignment significantly reduce the stress and strain on the surrounding muscles.
Nerves
The scalp is innervated primarily by the occipital nerves, originating in the upper cervical spine. Whenever these nerves are irritated, the tissues that are connected to these nerves can feel like they are being irritated also.
If your head is aching at the base of your skull, and/or the pain is traveling around to your temples, then our pain is likely being caused by an irritation of the occipital nerves. If you are prone to these types of headaches, be sure to have a chiropractor assess your neck. Often a few adjustments are all that you need to take the pressure off these nerves.
Joints
When joints become dysfunctional, all other tissues can be negatively affected, often leading to painful symptoms. Headaches that originate from dysfunctional joints in the neck are called cervicogenic headaches. When the normal freedom of movement is restored in these joints with chiropractic adjustments, headache intensity, duration, and the need for medication are all significantly reduced.
In a recently published study, a researcher recruited a sample of students between the ages of 10 to 13 years old. The sample was divided into two groups: one containing children who experienced recurring neck pain and/or headaches (40 percent of all the students surveyed), and the other group with an absence of these recurring symptoms.
Of all the data collected from the physical examinations, the only factor that could be correlated to the students’ pain was the presence or absence of cervical misalignments!
So, if you have any symptoms that resemble TMJ pain or headaches, remember to consult with us first. Call Olivieri Chiropractic at 609-886-8585 today to schedule an appointment!