Massage Therapy for Headache Relief

Massage Therapy for Headache Relief

Experiencing pain, whether it’s from an injury or a repetitive posture, can be a complicated and frustrating process. Although there are similarities in the expression of pain, every individual’s encounter with pain is unique to them. Massage therapy can be applied using a variety of techniques to help reduce pain and educate the client about its’ source. For example, the source of headaches can often be found in the muscles of the neck. Using massage to locate the “knot” or trigger point that refers to the headache can help to relieve the pain.

When pain becomes chronic, it can sometimes create a pain cycle which aggravates the nervous system. This means that the painful area sends signals to the brain to ask for help and the brain responds by causing the nerves in that area to be on alert and more sensitive to reduce further injury. When the source of the pain is gone, the brain may continue to put the nerves on alert, leading to a sensation of pain without a specific source. Massage can help to reduce the overactive signals, calm the nervous system and improve the outcome of chronic pain.

Sharing your pain experience with your massage therapist is so important! The best help is found when your RMT can assess the source and apply the right type of massage therapy to meet your specific needs. Our clinic has two well-experienced RMT’s, Kylagh & Stacey. Learn more about our registered massage therapy offering or contact us today to book an RMT appointment!

Find out more from the Registered Massage Therapists Association of BC (RMTBC) which discusses massage in the use of headaches, including tension headaches, migraine headaches, cluster headaches, and sinus headaches.