Osteopathy for headaches
Osteopathy for headaches is an approach that focuses on finding and treating the underlying causes of tension in the body that can lead to headache symptoms. Do you regularly suffer from headaches that interfere with your daily functioning? Whether it’s tension headaches, migraines or vague pressure symptoms in the head: with osteopathy, we can explore where in the body tensions arise that perpetuate the symptoms.
How do headaches occur?
Headaches are a broad term and have many possible causes. In some cases, there is overexertion, stress or poor sleep. In other situations, there are tensions in muscles, connective tissue or joints that gradually build up. The pain is then felt in the head, but the cause may lie elsewhere, such as in the neck, upper back, shoulders or jaw.
The body functions as a whole. A restriction in the mobility of the pelvis or spine, for example, can affect higher areas, including the head, through connective tissue structures. This creates headaches that are not isolated, but result from compensation elsewhere in the body.
Osteopathy for tension headaches
Tension headaches are a common form of headache. The symptoms are often described as an oppressive, squeezing band around the head. The cause is usually muscle tension in the neck, base of the skull or upper back. Prolonged monitor use, incorrect posture or emotional tension often play a role.
In tension headaches, the osteopath examines where in the body tension is building up. With gentle hand techniques, movement losses are detected and treated. By restoring movement to structures, muscle tension is reduced and the nervous system comes more to rest. Blood flow improves and many people find that headaches become less frequent or less intense.
Osteopathy for migraines
Migraines are more complex in nature than tension headaches. In addition to severe, throbbing headaches, symptoms often include nausea, hypersensitivity to light and sound, and sometimes what is known as an aura. Migraines have a neurological component, but tensions in the body can lower the threshold for an attack to occur.
An osteopath examines for movement restrictions in the neck, skull, upper back or abdominal organs that may affect the autonomic nervous system or blood flow in the head. By treating the body as a whole, self-regulation can improve and the body becomes less sensitive to stimuli that can trigger migraines.
What does a treatment look like?
With osteopathy for headaches, the consultation begins with a comprehensive intake. We discuss your symptoms, medical history and lifestyle habits. This is followed by a physical examination, in which the whole body is examined for blockages and areas of tension – not only in the head-neck area, but also outside it.
Treatment consists of subtle manual techniques aimed at improving the mobility of tissues and normalizing tension in the body. It looks not only at where you experience pain, but at the total movement pattern of your body. Often positive changes are noticeable after just a few treatments.
When do you choose osteopathy for headaches?
Osteopathy for headaches is suitable for people who regularly experience headaches, whether or not in combination with other complaints such as neck pain, fatigue or digestive problems. Even if you have already tried various therapies without lasting results, osteopathy can be a valuable addition. The treatment is safe, painless and aimed at stimulating the body’s natural recovery.
The goal is not to suppress symptoms, but to identify and resolve the cause of the complaint. Osteopathy is holistic, meaning we always look at the bigger picture. Sometimes the key to improvement lies in a different place than where the pain is manifesting.
Osteopath Sprong Amsterdam: osteopathy for headaches
Are you looking for a natural and effective approach to headaches? As an osteopath in Amsterdam West, I am happy to help you investigate where your symptoms are coming from. Together we look at the whole: your posture, muscle tension, previous injuries, breathing and any limitations in your musculoskeletal system. By bringing the body back into balance, there will be room for recovery and relaxation.
Want to know if osteopathy for headaches is right for you? Feel free to contact us for more information or schedule an initial appointment in the online calendar anytime.
