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Headaches for Massage Therapists
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Definitions: Pain in and around the
head.
Types of:
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Migraines
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Tension
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Sinus
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Trigeminal Neuralgia
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Cluster
Causes:
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Migraines: mostly unknown (by medical community),
cranial circulation problem, misalignment of neck vertebrae, food or chemical
sensitivities (environmental), hormonal changes (female, thyroid), blood
sugar imbalances
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Tension: muscle spasm, TMJ problems, neck
alignment
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Sinus: allergies (can be food, pollen, etc.),
bacterial or viral, neck misalignments
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Trigeminal Neuralgia - 5th Cranial Nerve irritation
Signs/Symptoms:
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Migraines: bilateral or unilateral pain,
pain mild to severe lasting for hours or days, nausea, vomiting, distorted
or blurred vision, sensitive to light and sound, cold extremities
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Tension: pain, referred pain, muscle spasm
and tension, triggerpoints, duration 1 hour to 1 day, TMJ, frontal, temporal
and occipital regions often affected
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Sinus: pressure around eyes, nose, cheeks
or back of head, congestion, excess mucous,
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Trigeminal Neuralgia -triggerpoints in face,
lips, tongue, jaw, more common in older people (50+)
Treatment Goals:
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be aware of clients tolerance: may need dark
room, soft touch depending on stage and type of headache
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decompress neck, facial bones, occipital area
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massage may sometimes cause headache to become
worse
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most kinds of headaches can be relieved by
working the back of the neck, occipital area, SCM, upper back, trapezius,
levator scapula.
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treat triggerpoints on top of head, back of
head, neck
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ice to back of neck, forehead; heat to feet/hands.
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traction to neck
Other helpful therapies: Chiropractic,
Acupuncture, Cranio-sacral, Naturopathy to detoxify and eliminate foods/chemicals
Possible Triggers Include:
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Birth Control Pills
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cheese
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chocolate
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dairy products
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bananas
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alcohol
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sensitivities to wheat
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caffeine
Touch
Research Institute :
Migraine Headaches
Massage therapy decreased the occurrence of headaches, sleep disturbances and
distress symptoms and increased serotonin levels in adults with migraine
headaches.
Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Dieter, J., Swerdlow. & Diego, M., (1998).
Migraine headaches were reduced by massage therapy. International Journal of
Neuroscience, 96, 1-11.R E S E A R C H
Massage Magazine report :Massage Reduces Headache Frequency
Massage Therapy for Tension Headaches Pilot Study Concludes Massage Therapy
Foundation News
Somatic Research By Shirley Vanderbilt Massage and Bodywork Magazine
Fewer
Migraines with Massage Therapy Bastyr University
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