Don’t Let Stress-Related Headaches Get You Down

Did you know headaches are the third most common pain complaint? Millions of people experience them at some point or another. As stated by Choose PT, the American Physical Therapy Association’s consumer resource, headaches affect 47% of the global population and are described by the type and location of pain in the head. Many headaches are harmless and resolve gradually, but more frequent moderate to severe headaches can impact your ability to do daily activities and your quality of life.

Some common types of headaches include sinus headaches, hormonal headaches, and migraines. Various types of stress can also play a role in causing headaches, and stress-related headaches are considered one of the most common headache types people experience. It’s important to understand how they differ from other types, and what causes them.

How can physical therapy relieve stress-related headaches?

Physical therapy might not be the first thing that comes to mind for headache treatment, but it may be the ideal option if you’re experiencing tension or stress headaches. A physical therapist will typically review your medical history and conduct a thorough evaluation of your current physical abilities and limitations, then create a treatment plan that addresses your individual condition.

There are several specific ways physical therapy can help reduce stress-related headaches, including but not limited to:

• Lifestyle modification. A physical therapist can teach you new ways of sitting, standing, and completing daily tasks that reduce the stress and tension contributing to your headaches. Over time, even improved posture may decrease how often you experience them.
• Stretching exercises. These can help loosen tight muscles and ligaments in your neck and back that are contributing to your headaches, and may also strengthen those muscles, reducing pressure in your neck and shoulders as they grow stronger and more flexible.
• Ice and heat compression. Alternating heat and cold therapy can often reduce tension and stress in muscles, reducing strain and providing immediate soothing relief.
• Soft tissue mobilization. Massage and other manual therapy can often provide immediate relief from pain associated with stress headaches, and can help prevent the contractions in the shoulders, neck, and head that cause them.

Why am I experiencing stress-related headaches?

Anxiety, fatigue, and general stress can all contribute to stress-related headaches. Certain health conditions, including arthritis, may also cause headaches. Poor posture can contribute as well: when muscles become tense, it causes blood vessels to dilate, which can lead to discomfort in the neck and head and can worsen stress-related headaches and other types, such as migraines.

What else should I know?

Stress-related headaches are also sometimes called tension headaches. You may experience a dull, achy pain along your forehead or through the back of your head. The pain sometimes begins in the neck or shoulders and then progresses through the head, and it’s also possible to experience aches or pains in the jaw and cheeks. In stressful situations, our bodies often go into fight-or-flight mode, releasing certain chemicals in the brain that can lead to pain.

As Choose PT puts it, there is effective treatment for almost every type of headache. If you’re struggling with stress-related headaches, an individualized physical therapy plan may reduce or even eliminate your headache pain. Schedule a consultation with one of our licensed physical therapists today to find out how we can help.