Suffering from headaches can be quite common for a lot of people, and can be debilitating to your life. In this blog, we briefly talk about the causes of tension type headaches (TTH) and things to consider to help.
Those who have a family history of headaches are at risk for developing TTH, so they can be genetic. But there are other causes to consider, such as increased pain sensitisation in our muscles (particularly around the head and neck), which could be caused by a previous injury, or other environmental factors such as stress or anxiety in our lives. It could even be a combination of both, and there is no doubting that such a relationship between physical and psychosocial factors can be complex.
At Health and Harmony, we would look to take a global, holistic approach by carrying out a comprehensive assessment and treatment plan. We can assess whether there are any muscle imbalances, postural related issues, muscle tension, or lack of flexibility and mobility that may be contributing, and set an appropriate treatment and exercise plan to make long term improvements in your life. We could also identify if there are certain triggers and ways you could manage them (or sign post you to the appropriate professional).
Finally, it is worth bearing in mind that a cross study analysis carried out in 2020 by Barber et al, showed that exercise can cause a reduction in migraine days and a 20-54% in reduction in pain intensity of migraines. Why is this? It is thought that exercise exerts a suppressive effect on inflammatory substances, which may influence migraines as well. Another possible explanation is exercise impacts pain thresholds through medication of stress hormones and production of endorphins.
There was found to be no specific type of exercise to be best but HIT (high intensity exercise) led to more pronounced reductions in migraine days. However, low impact interventions like yoga may also exert positive benefits. If you’re not already getting regular exercise, a good place to start might be getting out for a fast paced 20 minute walk 3 times a week, or joining that local yoga or pilates class. Go for it!
Source: “A comprehensive guide to Understanding and Managing TTH with Physio Interventions” by Andreas Heck of Physiotutors (6 April 2024)