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Harrisburg Chiropractic Beats Massage for Cervicogenic Headaches

We see a great number of folks with headaches in our Harrisburg office, and Dr. Blake has been able to support many of them. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that half of all adults have difficulty with some manner of headache condition, so this actually isn’t a surprise. One of the most frequent types of headaches which our patients are afflicted with is cervicogenic headache which, happily, chiropractic can commonly help.

What is a Cervicogenic Headache?

A cervicogenic headache is one that starts from an issue in the cervical spine. It could be thanks to a condition with either the spine itself (in particular, the vertebrae, joints, or discs), or it may be attributed to a problem in the muscles and tendons of your neck. This dysfunction in your spine results in compaction or irritation of the spinal nerves, which can contribute to headache pain.

How do you find out if the headache you are feeling is a cervicogenic headache? Aside from receiving a diagnosis from a healthcare professional, a typical symptom of cervicogenic headaches is tenderness or discomfort in your neck. This is occasionally associated with pain in the back of your head or between your shoulder blades.

How Chiropractic Helps with Cervicogenic Headaches

Since cervicogenic headaches will not subside until whatever issue is triggering them is corrected, it is vital to get treatment rather than just trying to "wait it out." Chiropractic care is an effective approach, and one that offers a considerable amount of pain relief.

In one study published in Chiropractic & Osteopathy, researchers looked at 80 people who had recurring cervicogenic headaches. Half of them received chiropractic care and the other 50% underwent light massage therapy. Each participant was examined 12 and 24 weeks after the treatment and it was discovered that chiropractic offered the most beneficial effects.

Specifically, this study found that chiropractic adjustments provided patients more significant pain relief and reduced the number of headaches that occurred. Furthermore, it also diminished the disability that resulted from these painful headaches.

To find out what Dr. Blake can do for you and your headache pain, call us today. We'll do our best to get you the pain relief you need!

References

  • Haas M, Schneider M, Vavrek D. Illustrating risk difference and number needed to treat from a randomized controlled trial of spinal manipulation for cervicogenic headache. Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2010 18(9).
  • World Health Organization. (2012, October). Headache disorders. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs277/en/
June 17, 2019
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Dr. Blake

Trust the medical professionals at Blake Chiropractic & Rehab for all of your chiropractic needs. We have more than 26 years of experience and work to ensure your complete satisfaction. Our staff is dedicated to providing top-quality chiropractic care, so make an appointment today. We are conveniently located right off Route 22, beside the Colonial Park Fire Department, and accept most major insurance plans.