We've all heard about the benefits of massage therapy, but do we know how it helps with headaches? Massage therapy is a form of treatment that can relieve your headaches by reducing tension in the head, neck, and shoulder areas. It can also help prevent future headaches by reducing stress and triggers. Continue reading to learn more about how a massage can help you relieve headaches.
How Does Massage Therapy Relieve Headaches?
Massages can reduce the stress and muscle tension experienced in the head, neck, and shoulder areas that contribute to headaches. Massages work by targeting specific trigger points in the body. Therefore, accurate pressure and positioning are crucial when performing a massage.
The calming effects of massage therapy reduce cortisol, a stress hormone that contributes to headaches. Massages should be completed in a series of treatments, with each session lasting about one hour.
Are Massages Effective For all Headaches?
Massages can help people suffering from tension headaches, eye strain, and muscle soreness. However, massages may not be as effective for those dealing with migraines.
Migraines are a special type of neurological headache that is not fully understood. The pain associated with a migraine is intense and can last for hours, and there are different subtypes of migraines. Even children can get them. Migraine sufferers often have nausea or hypersensitivity to light or touch. In most cases, massage therapy is not as effective for migraines.
Can Everyone Benefit from a Massage?
Massage therapy may not work for everyone, but it can relieve headaches and other body ailments. Even if it is not effective, massage therapy will likely not be painful or unpleasant. Therefore, we believe it's a good idea for anyone suffering from headaches to schedule a massage and see if it helps.
Therapex is a multi-disciplinary health clinic that offers various services such as physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, kinesiology, and more.
We strive to make extended healthcare easily accessible to the community by having all services offered in one clinic.
