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Honolulu Massage Therapy
Headache Relief with Massage
Chronic
headaches are a distressing fact of life for millions of people.
The need to continually cope with pain often diminishes the quality of
a person's life at work and home. With its ability to relieve muscle
tension, promote healing of injuries, and reduce stress, therapeutic
massage can
be a powerful ally in your battle against chronic headaches.
Massage
therapy can be one of your most powerful allies in coping with chronic
headaches. It works on many levels to reduce physical and mental
stress, improve circulation, promote healing, and increase energy. With
the
pain and frequency of your headaches reduced, you can enjoy a renewed
sense of well-being and an increased amount of enjoyment of work, play,
and family life.
Massage
to the neck and head can relieve headaches by releasing tight,
shortened muscles, trigger points, and fascia (connective tissue
surrounding muscles and other structures). When muscles and fascia
relax and become more pliable, circulation improves. This helps
eliminate irritating waste
products and brings oxygen and healing nutrients to tissues.
If
your headache is due to an injury, massage therapy can promote healing
and make restrictive scar tissue more pliable in the muscles and
ligaments
of the neck. If posture is a factor, massage can help by increasing
your awareness of tension patterns that affect your posture, so that
you can
take steps to improving it.
For
migraines, massage may be a powerful preventive measure. It can help
reduce accumulated physical and mental stress and, over time, reduce
the frequency and intensity of episodes.
Many
headaches are due to basic muscle tension. Tension headaches
vary in pain level and are sometimes accompanied by band-like pressure
around the head. They originate in the neck, head and shoulders from
tight, contracted muscles and/or trigger points (irritable spots that
refer
pain elsewhere). Postural problems, mental and physical stress, and
disturbed sleep patterns can all contribute to tension headaches.
Migraines
are characterized by intense, one-sided pain, which may extend
to the face, jaw and neck. They can last from several hours to several
days and involve nausea, dizziness, and extreme fatigue and sensitivity
to
light or sound. Factors that can contribute to their onset include
stress,
lack of sleep, hormonal changes, food allergies, missing a
meal, certain medications, bright lights and loud noises.
Headaches due to Neck injury:
Muscle
and
ligament injuries in the neck often cause headaches. These injuries can
be caused by a sudden trauma, such as whiplash, or have a gradual onset
from repetitious activities, such as working at a computer for hours
every day. Muscle tension and scar tissue in injured areas can limit
movement, restrict blood flow, and cause trigger points, resulting in
head
and neck pain.
Other
types of Headaches:
Cluster
headaches occur in a series, then disappear for months at a time.
Rebound headaches are caused by accumulated toxins from frequent use
of prescription or over-the-counter pain medications. Post-traumatic
headaches are a result of head injury that may occur immediately or
well
after the injury, and often go hand-in-hand with headaches due to neck
injury. Among the long list of other headache causes are: Sinusitis,
allergies, TMJD (temporomandibular joint dysfunction), high blood
pressure, tumors, and strokes.
It
is
important to receive medical attention for these or any chronic or
severe headache. Also, because there is a chance that a sudden severe
headache could indicate an emergency, if you experience head pain
unlike anything you've experienced before, seek medical help
immediately.
The
relaxing effects of massage are a powerful way to ease stress and
tension, an aggravating factor in almost any type of headache. When you
focus on the pleasant sensation of relaxation, the persistent grip of
pain recedes. As the body relaxes, so does the mind, reducing anxiety
that may be part of your headache pattern. The nervous system calms,
your breath slows and deepens, and your feeling of well-being is
restored.
Always
keep the massage therapist informed about your symptoms, medications
and state of health so that she can ensure that your treatment is
comfortable and effective. To treat your specific headache pattern,
your therapist will draw from an array of hands-on or other techniques,
such as stretching, or hot or cold therapies.
A
single
massage can provide much needed short-term relief. For more lasting
effects, your therapist may recommend a series of sessions
Because
chronic headaches often result from multiple factors, a multifaceted
approach that includes massage may be the most effective treatment.
Following an exercise program or practicing yoga, tai chi, or other
movement arts may help reduce muscle tension and improve posture and
balance in your body. A physician, allergist, or licensed nutritionist
can assist you if your headache has a chemical, dietary, or hormonal
factor. Stress counseling may help you learn to relax and to express
your feelings, which can prevent stress from building.
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"When she was done I felt
extraordinarily
relaxed
&
we were even
standing
up straighter
than
usual....."
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