Oakville Massage Home Page
	Massage Therapy Articles
	Natural Medicine Articles
	Massage Directory
	Spa Directory
	Links
	Submissions/ Advertising

Email this page
to a friend

 

Massage Therapy - Tension Headache & Massage: How Can Massage Help? By Tanya Hamlet, Hon. B. Sc., RMT What is a Tension Headache? Tension headaches are the most common types of headaches that affect approximately 80% of the general population. These headaches are muscular in origin and are often associated with trigger points within neck and shoulder muscles that refer pain to those regions. The pain is often described as a constant ache, like a tight band wrapped around the forehead, usually occurring in the front of the head but may also appear at the top or back of the skull. What Causes a Tension Headache? Tension headaches are thought to be caused by a tightening of the muscles of the face, neck and scalp. Trigger points often found within the taut muscle bands refer pain into the neck and head resulting in a tension headache. Tightening of muscles in this region can attributed to a variety of factors; the most common being internal and environmental stress which in turn can affect other predisposing factors such as improper sleeping habits, TMJ (temporomandibular joint) dysfunction, decreased range of motion of the head and neck and postural imbalances such as hunching of the shoulders, head-forward posture and scoliosis. Associated symptoms include muscle tenderness and stiffness, an increased tone in the affected muscle and a loss of appetite. How are Tension Headaches Treated? There are a variety of the ways to treat tension headaches such as the use of analgesics like Aspirin and Tylenol but studies have shown that massage is an effective and safe way to drastically decrease the intensity and frequency of tension headache occurrence. A massage treatment is in the context of a relaxation massage with aim of reducing pain, muscle tone, trigger points and joint dysfunctions. In addition we also want to increase range of motion and tissue health with all work being done within the client’s pain tolerance. The massage begins with hydrotherapy in the form of heat (i.e. hot towel) to affected muscles. General Swedish Massage techniques are applied by the therapist to the pectorals, posterior neck muscles, facial muscles and the scalp. Trigger points are also treated in affected muscles using deeper techniques followed by stretching of affected muscles. The use of massage can relax and stretch muscles, and when treated on a consistent basis can break the cycle of pain as well as eliminate the original source. Massage can also be used to manage mental aspects of stress such as anxiety and anger. In short, massage has a positive effect psychologically and physiologically both of which can affect our perception of pain. So book an appointment with a massage therapist and make those tension headaches a thing of the past.