Chiropractic Care May Help to Relieve Chronic Headaches
Millions of Americans suffer some sort of headache every day, with chronic head pain affecting more than one in four households. Many people manage their pain through powerful prescription medications, which can have many side effects. Headaches can be caused by many different things, with about 20% of Americans reporting suffering from cervicogenic head pain. These headaches are usually the result of a past injury or trauma, and can restrict a patient’s range of motion. Luckily new research shows that chiropractic can be a safe and powerful way to treat cervicogenic headaches in a natural manner.
One recent study compared the effects of chiropractic treatment in comparison to light massage on 80 different participants. All of the participants suffered some sort of cervicogenic headaches prior to the study and were asked to self-report pain and disability levels both before and after the treatments. Before the study, each participant reported significant pain and a reduction in productivity, including work and home tasks. When the study concluded, the group that received the chiropractic treatment reported much lower pain levels than the group that received massage. Additionally, the chiropractic group had a greater reduction in the number of headaches they suffered, therefore finding higher productivity levels.
The results of the study shows promise in chiropractic as a natural alternative treatment for chronic headaches. Many Americans who suffer from frequent head pain understand the need for a multidisciplinary approach to their wellness plan as powerful prescription pain medications are simply a Band-Aid with more side effects. Since over 14 million people suffer from daily head pain, there is a desperate need for better treatments.
Researchers believe that this study shows how chiropractic care may be an effective treatment with lasting results and reduced overall pain. It is hoped that chiropractic’s success with cervicogenic headaches will lead to other long-term studies on the treatment’s efficacy treating other forms of head pain. Headaches can be caused by migraine, stress, or a number of other illnesses, increasing the need for quantitative research on the potential healing effects of chiropractic care. As more attention is paid to natural alternatives to traditional medicine as a way of treating chronic head pain, it is hoped that more people will receive the relief they so desire.