HEADACHES:
They’re a real pain in the neck

Headaches are a plague to mankind and have been around from the time humans began to roam the planet. And, the human race has fought against them the entire time.
Headaches can come in many forms and intensities. There are the “headache ghosts” that hover through out the head and neck area with a vague pain you just can’t locate. There are the “sick headaches” with hideous pain behind the eyes or on the sides of the head that make you nauseous and dizzy. And, of course there are the migraines that are so severe they must be treated by a medical doctor. But, most are not that severe; they are just aggravating and can be treated by a simple over the counter pain reliever. Lastly, some headaches are chronic and return again and again and again with a disgusting regularity. These chronic headaches are the ones that will be discussed. They have a simple source. They are caused by overstrained, over stretched and over worked muscles in the neck, upper back and shoulders.
To combat headaches that come back on a regular basis massage therapy can be the answer. Injured muscles and tendons can be helped by increasing the blood flow to them, moving out waste materials and replacing them with fresh blood containing nutrients and oxygen. Massage also softens and stretches tense, taut muscles and can break up adhesions and scar tissue promoting healthy healing. Once the muscles and tendons heal properly the headaches will decrease or even go away. And, a good massage therapist can also give you ideas on how to aid the healing by simple postural corrections.
So, don’t let chronic headache pain ruin your life. Get relief from a trained, reputable massage therapist. You’ll be glad you did.
Ben Gustafson; RMT
BACK TO BGMT