Headaches & Migraines
Physical therapy helps most with headaches that start in the neck (cervicogenic) and tension-type headaches, which are often tied to posture and tight neck and shoulder muscles. For migraines it works alongside medical care and may help reduce how often they come and how bad they get. Western Slope Rehab and Performance treats headaches in Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton and the Redlands.
Three kinds of headache we see
Cervicogenic
A headache from the neck: it starts at the base of the skull and may spread over one side of the head or behind the eyes.
Tension-type
A band of pressure around the head, often with tight shoulders. Daily headaches are often this type.
Migraine
Throbbing pain, often with nausea or light sensitivity. Physical therapy is part of your care, not a replacement for it.
How your neck, jaw and posture feed a headache
The joints and muscles at the top of the neck share nerve pathways with the head. When they are stiff or overworked, pain can show up as a headache at the base of the skull or behind the eyes. A forward head posture, long hours at a screen and clenching your teeth can all add to it. Neck pain on its own is covered on Neck Pain, and jaw-related headaches on TMJ / Jaw Pain.
What physical therapy can and cannot do for migraines
What it can do
Treat neck and shoulder tension that can set off or worsen attacks, improve posture, and teach relaxation and breathing techniques. Many patients notice fewer or milder headaches.
What it cannot do
It does not replace a neurologist or your migraine medication. Keep your doctor in the loop, and we will work alongside them.
What your sessions involve
- An evaluation of neck motion, posture and the muscles around the skull and shoulders
- Manual therapy for the neck and upper back
- Trigger point release and Dry Needling for tight, tender muscle bands
- Deep neck flexor strengthening and postural correction
- Relaxation and breathing techniques to use between visits
Go to the emergency room if...
- You have a sudden headache that feels like the worst of your life
- A headache comes with weakness, slurred speech, confusion or vision loss
- A headache follows a head injury
These need urgent medical care before any physical therapy.
Headaches that will not quit
We see patients from Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton and the Redlands. You can start physical therapy without a referral from a doctor in most cases. Some insurance plans, including Medicare, still need a doctor to sign the plan of care. Call (970) 314-9822 or read about Direct Access.
We see patients from Grand Junction and the surrounding Grand Valley: Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton and the Redlands.