A man with a headache receives Craniosacral massage therapy for relief.Massage therapy can be incredibly helpful for individuals suffering from migraines and other types of headaches. While a massage may not necessarily “cure” headaches/migraines, it can be beneficial in a number of ways. These benefits include: reducing muscle tension and pain, improving circulation and facilitating better sleep. The Wellness Center offers several massage modalities (and therapists who offer them) that have been proven to be the most effective in managing migraines/headaches.

Types of massage that help manage migraines and headaches…

The following massage modalities have been proven to be the most effective in managing migraines/headaches.

  1. Trigger Point Therapy/Myofascial Release Therapy: Applying pressure to specific areas that contain “knots” in the muscle or connective tissue and/or smoothing out fascia in areas where it’s become congested/stuck together.
  2. CranioSacral Therapy: Applying gentle pressure to the tissues in your head and spine to ensure unimpeded flow of the cerebral spinal fluid throughout the spinal column as well as elongating the spinal cord to improve flow.
  3. Deep Tissue Massage: Using more pressure to facilitate work below the superficial layers of the body to relieve muscle tension.

What your massage therapist needs to know to be effective…

A woman with a headache presses her hands to her temples in pain.Being aware of the type of headache you are experiencing is important information to provide to your massage therapist. Additional factors such as injury, outdated prescriptions for glasses or contacts, dehydration are all helpful as well. The more information your therapist has, the more specific the work can be in terms of pressure and the area(s) to be worked. The more specialized you care is, the better results you’ll receive from your treatment.  Some of the common types of headache are:

  1. Tension Headache: This is the most common type of headache and is often caused by stress, muscle tension, fatigue, eye strain, or poor posture. Symptoms may include mild-to-moderate head pain, light or sound sensitivity, no pulsating sensation, no nausea or vomiting.
  2. Migraine: Migraine is characterized by moderate to severe throbbing/pulsating head pain, accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and/or sensitivity to light and sound, and for about 25% visual disturbances (aura).
  3. Cluster (Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias): These are severe headache attacks that occur in clusters or cycles, often around the eyes or temples, are usually side-locked, and can cause intense pain. There might also be visible symptoms such as eye redness, tearing or irritation.
  4. Sinus Headache: This headache occurs when the sinus cavity is inflamed from allergies, illness, or dry weather. The pain is a deep ache centralized in the cheekbones, forehead, and bridge of the nose.
  5. Post-traumatic Headache: A common complication of head injury or concussion, occurring in 30–90% of cases. It can be acute or chronic and may resemble a migraine or tension-type headache.

When to consult with your doctor…

It is important to note that massage could be contra-indicated if you are experiencing new, sudden or severe headache symptoms or they are coupled with neurological symptoms like vision loss or weakness. In these instances or if you are unsure about your specific situation, please consult with your healthcare provider first.

Sources:

Excerpt from National Headache Foundation website.