Migraine is a neurological condition because of which the person faces intense headaches and pain on one side of the brain. These intense headaches may last a few hours to maybe a few days. According to research conducted by some medical students in Lahore, they claimed that 22.5% of Pakistanis suffer from migraine disorder.
Approaches to reduce migraine through physiotherapy
The severity and duration of the migraine will vary from person to person. Although a migraine can be managed and reduced, it cannot be eliminated. That’s where physiotherapy comes in. Physiotherapy is an effective way of reducing severe headaches and migraine. A few ways by which a person can reduce migraine through physical therapy are mentioned below:
1. Postural correction/ Ergonomic advice
Correcting your posture helps minimize migraine. For example, sitting in front of a computer for long hours can cause muscle tension on the shoulders and neck. People with migraines should avoid bending their necks towards the computer. Moreover, they should keep 20-30 inches of distance between the eyes and the screen. Additionally, you should use an armrest to support arms and shoulders to avoid putting a strain on it.
2. Manual therapy (Massage, joint mobilization)
Shoulder and neck strain can be relieved with manual treatment techniques by massaging the trigger points. Moreover, it will also help relieve stiffness and ease the muscle knots. By gently stretching the neck, manual cervical traction improves balance and reduces tension. When combined with ergonomic counseling and postural correction, these techniques can help reduce muscular strain.
3. Stretching exercises
Migraine headaches can be relieved through various stretching exercises. Some movements and poses can help to reduce migraine pain. For example, neck stretches, shoulder stretches, chest stretches, upper back stretches, Suboccipital stretches, etc. These types of stretches especially help with migraine headaches.
4. Stress management techniques
Stress is one of the major triggers for migraines. The patient should be able to manage it effectively to reduce the severity of headaches. Progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and focused visualization are a few ways to relax your body and mind. Moreover, stress can be managed by practicing mindfulness. Furthermore, cognitive behavioral strategies also teach you how to control your anxieties and stress.
5. Dry needling
Dry needling is a process in which thin needles are inserted into sore muscles to help them relax. This releases tension from the tense muscles of the body and helps the person relax. It will remove muscle knots, stimulate blood circulation, and reduce inflammation.
6. Breathing and relaxation techniques
Methods such as diaphragmatic breathing and deep breathing help release tension in the muscles and relax the body. Furthermore, progressive muscle relaxation also helps reduce general stress levels, which reduces migraine attacks. When paired together, these methods assist in promoting a more relaxed state and lower the chance of migraines.
7. Education on migraine triggers
A patient suffering from migraine needs to be educated on his or her triggers to help minimize attacks. One should be aware of what specific foods, sleep patterns, or other factors trigger migraine. After getting to know about the triggers, they should take precautions against them. That’s where physiotherapists come in. They help identify these triggers for the patient and suggest precautionary measures. One can easily avoid migraines by being aware of these triggers and controlling them.
8. Lifestyle changes
It is very important for a person suffering from migraine to make a few lifestyle changes to help reduce it. For instance, staying hydrated, having a proper sleep pattern and a balanced diet. Moreover, relaxation and breathing exercises also help. Having a healthy lifestyle with a proper routine helps decrease migraine attacks if not completely finishing them.
Benefits of physical therapy
All these techniques if applied in the daily routine can help reduce migraine attacks and their severity. A few benefits of using physiotherapy to decrease migraine are:
Drug-free approach
This is a more natural and drug-free approach to reduce migraine attacks. A patient doing therapy instead of taking medicines is a safer lifestyle choice. Reliance on painkillers every time migraine occurs will make the patient addicted to always using drugs for relief.
Customized treatment
When patients consult with a physiotherapist to manage and reduce their migraine attacks and their severity, they will get a more customized and individualized treatment according to their lifestyle and the severity of the migraines.
Long-term relief
Taking drugs to reduce migraine severity is a short-term approach to reducing migraine. However, physiotherapy although a slow procedure will help the patient in the long run. For instance, if the patient makes lifestyle and health changes, it will positively affect them in the long run as well.
Relieve other physical issues
If they are treated by physiotherapy, it improves vestibular symptoms, and musculoskeletal problems as well. Issues such as dizziness, laziness, loss of balance, and stability will also be reduced. Moreover, sensitivity to light and motion will also be affected.
Physiotherapy is recommended to treat and help manage migraine attacks and severity rather than using drugs to cure it for a short period. For a personalized and effective treatment plan, consider visiting LEPR Physiotherapy Clinic in Islamabad, where they provide expert care and tailored physiotherapy solutions.
