There are many things that can cause migraines and tension headaches and the symptoms they produce can vary from person to person. They can last for a few hours or for several days and have a serious effect on your life. However, massage therapy can relieve them but also has the potential to prevent their onset entirely.
Table Of Contents
Tension Headaches
The most common type of headaches are tension headaches and most people will experience them at some point. They generally feel like a tight band around your head or at your temples. This can also include your forehead and scalp and involve a mild to moderate level of pain(1). The pain can also cause stiffness in the neck, which may be an indication of their source. They can last for a few minutes or for several days and happen very rarely or every month. This all depends on the cause, which is often related to stress or bad posture leading to muscle tension.
Migraines
Migraines are the second most common type of headache. The pain is an intense throbbing and usually just affect one side of your head. This visual aura, often accompanied by one or more other symptoms, serves as a potential 30-minute warning signal for the impending headache. These include sensitivity to light or sound, nausea, vomiting or numbness. Their duration also varies. They can last from a few hours up to around three days and reoccur at various intervals. Some people have several attacks a month while others are more fortunate and have less than one a year. The causes of migraines are numerous but include diet, sleep habits, stress, posture and environment.
How Massage Can Help Stop Migraines And Tension Headaches
As I have described, both migraines and tension headaches can arise from poor posture and stress. Sitting at a desk or driving all day puts your body in a poor position, leading to tight and shortened muscles in the shoulders, upper back, neck and scalp. Reacting to stress, especially on a regular basis, typically causes shrugging of the shoulders and clenching of the jaw. This can make migraines and tension headaches even worse.
Massage can help by relaxing muscles that would otherwise add to the severity and frequency your migraines and tension headaches. This releases the stress and anxiety that contributed to the tension in the first place. In turn this reduces pressure on nerves and blood vessels which improves circulation, allowing oxygen-rich blood to the muscles. Another benefit of this is that it helps with pain relief.
Through the relaxation of tense muscles and improved flexibility, massage directly contributes to improved posture. This allows the body to be in it’s correct position. Failure to achieve proper posture, due to the impingement of blood vessels, nerves and muscles, can trigger migraines and tension headaches.
What Type Of Massage Is Best For Migraines And Tension Headaches
Which type of massage is best for you depends on the causes, and on the individual. If it’s psychological stress or anxiety that brings on your migraines and tension headaches then Swedish massage will help you to relax and unwind. As a result your muscles will also naturally relax. The massage can be concentrated on the affected area, such as neck and shoulders, or it can be a more general, stress-busting full-body massage.
For other people the muscles require a more direct treatment such as deep tissue massage. This is often the case if you are prone to shrugging your shoulders or clenching your jaw in times of stress. The result is more likely to be muscle tension, stiffness and “knots” that need working out in specific areas.
Both types of massage will relax your mind and your muscles, but some people prefer one over the other. Or it might be that you would prefer a combination of the two. In the end it is your decision which to have.
Book A Mobile Massage
If you would like to book a mobile massage in York please contact me on 07713 250352 or email david@massageinyork.co.uk. Includes sports massage, deep tissue massage and Swedish massage. For more information on booking click here