Headache is one of the most common illnesses in Australia, with around 15 per cent of us taking painkillers for a headache at any given time.

Because headaches are so common, most people think they are a normal part of life. However, a persistent headache is a sign that something is wrong. The continual use of pain medication to combat headaches is akin to removing the warning light that alerts you to a problem in your car. Medication doesn’t solve your headache, it simply offers a short term solution to dull the pain.

Types of Headache

Tension headaches and migraine are the most common forms of headache and cluster headaches are most rare. Other types of headache include sinus headache, rebound headache, and exertion headache.

Causes of Headache

Headaches can result due to a variety of reasons including stress, poor posture, accidents, medications, environmental factors such as strong odours, pollution, and dietary irregularities.

Perhaps one of the most overlooked cause of migraine and tension headache is the nerve irritation in the upper neck originating from poorly functioning spinal joints – or what we call vertebral dysfunction. Since the nerves of the upper neck supply areas of the scalp and face, irritation to these nerves can and often lead to headache.

Assessment of Headache

The osteopath will carefully analyse potential headache trigger agents and perform a detailed history, orthopaedic, neurological, and spinal examination to determine the cause of your headache. Further diagnostic testing such as X-ray or MRI may also be required. Upon reaching a specific diagnosis, your care and treatment can begin.

Relief from Headache

Osteopathy is an extremely effective treatment for headaches. By carefully restoring proper movement to the spinal joints of the neck, the osteopath is able to significantly reduce the presence of nerve irritation and muscle tension helping to alleviate the cause of your headaches.

For further information or to consult with one of our skilled osteopaths, you can use the Contact Us or Appointment Request buttons at the top or bottom of this page,