Most people struggle with headaches on an occasional or chronic basis, but what most people who suffer from headaches don’t always know is that there are different types of headaches that have different causes and treatments or that massage therapy can be used to treat headaches. In this blog, we’ll explore some of the different types of headaches, why massage therapy is beneficial for headache relief, and the techniques used to help alleviate headaches effectively.

What Type of Headache Do I Have?

Typically when we’re suffering from head pain we simply refer to the pain as a headache; however, there are different types of headaches that can have different causes and treatments. If you suffer from chronic or painful headaches, understanding the type of headache you’re experiencing can help you explore more effective treatment options. Some of the common types of headaches are:

Tension Headaches

These are the most common type of headaches and are often caused by stress, muscle tension, fatigue, eye strain, or poor posture.

Migraine Headaches

Migraines are characterized by intense throbbing pain, often accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and visual disturbances.

Cluster Headaches

These are severe headaches that occur in clusters or cycles, often around the eyes or temples, and can cause intense pain.

Sinus Headaches

These headaches occur 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. 

How Does Massage Help Headaches?

Massage therapy can be incredibly beneficial for relieving headaches due to its ability to:

Relax Muscles

Massage helps release tension in the muscles of the head, neck, and shoulders, reducing the intensity and frequency of tension headaches.

Improve Circulation

By increasing blood flow, massage promotes oxygen and nutrient delivery to the brain, which can help alleviate migraine symptoms.

Reduce Stress

Massage therapy promotes relaxation and reduces stress levels, which are common triggers for both tension and migraine headaches.

Lymphatic Drainage

The pressure of a massage can help improve circulation and promote lymphatic drainage which can alleviate pressure that causes sinus headaches.

What Are Some Massage Techniques Used For Headache Relief?

Trigger Point Therapy

This type of therapy involves applying pressure to specific trigger points in the muscles to release tension and alleviate headache pain.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage targets deeper layers of muscle tissue to relieve chronic tension and improve overall muscle function.

Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral massage provides a gentle manipulation of the skull and spine to promote relaxation, relieve pressure, and improve headache symptoms.

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release focuses on releasing tension in the fascia (connective tissue) to improve range of motion and reduce headache frequency.

Acupressure

Acupressure stimulates specific points on the body to promote energy flow and relieve headache pain.

Where Can I Find A Massage Therapist Near Me?

At Advanced Kinetics Physical Therapy we offer massage therapy services to provide pain relief and injury prevention! Massage is a great treatment to try whether you’re dealing with chronic pain, suffering from anxiety and depression, are looking to recover from an injury, or just need some quiet time to relax! We offer these services at our locations in Falls Church and McLean, Virginia. If you’re interested in learning more about how our physical therapists can help you, please get in touch with us!