Home | Blog | About Me | Websites for Massage Therapists | Business Coaching | Search |
|
|
Tension HeadachesTreatment Plans for Massage Therapists Definition - Muscle contraction type headache Causes - Myofascial triggerpoints, myofascial pain syndromes, facilitation, trauma, acute muscle overload, postural imbalances (forward head posture), referred pain and emotional stress, TMJD (temporal manibular joint dysfunction.) Signs/Symptoms - Bilateral, diffuse and constant, dull or vise- like. Location is often in the referral pattern of the specific muscles. Chronic daily headache may have associated neck and shoulder pain, tenderness and stiffness. If SCM is involved, may experience nausea, vertigo and tinnitus. Special Tests/Contraindications - Differential diagnosis. Rule out other types of headaches that can be more serious. No deep work or vigorous techniques that could create kick-back. Treatment plan - Massage is best for tension headache. Reduce sympathetic nervous system firing, reduce pain, hypertonicity, triggerpoints and joint dysfunction. Increase Range of Motion, Tissue health. Pre-tx with heat to affected muscles During tx - use diaphragmatic breathing Prone or supine may not be tolerated well - use sidelying. Work Pectoral muscles and posterior neck. Reduce triggerpoints in upper trapezius, splenius capitis, splenius cervicis, Occiptialis, Frontalis, Suboccipitals, SCM, Temporalis, traction (see anatomy)
|
|
