If you deal with frequent tension headaches, you know just how painful and disruptive they can be. But did you know chiropractic care offers safe, natural relief for tension headaches? Keep reading to learn what causes tension headaches, who gets them, symptoms, and how chiropractic treatments can help.

Read time: 8 minutes

What Are Tension Headaches?

Tension headaches, also called tension-type headaches or muscle contraction headaches, are the most common type of headache. Up to 42% of adults worldwide experience tension headaches.

Tension headaches cause head pain due to tightening of muscles in the scalp, neck, and shoulder area. They are often triggered by stress, anxiety, depression, poor posture, jaw clenching, eye strain, or other factors that create muscle tension in the head and neck.

Tension headaches may occur occasionally or become a chronic problem. Chronic tension headaches happen at least 15 days per month.

Key Facts About Tension Headaches:

• Affect up to 80% of adults
• Twice as common in women
• Can be episodic or chronic
• Lead to self-medication and medication overuse
• Disrupt work, school, relationships and quality of life

What Causes Tension Headaches?

Experts aren’t entirely sure what causes tension headaches. Contributing factors include:

• Muscle tension – Frowning, jaw clenching, poor posture leads to muscle tension and pain.

• Trigger points – Hyperirritable knots in the muscles can refer pain to the head.

• Stress – Anxiety, fatigue, depression contribute to muscle tension.

         

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• Neck injuries or misalignment – Past neck strains, whiplash, arthritis, vertebral subluxations causing nerve irritation and tight muscles.

• Chronic pain conditions – Fibromyalgia, TMJ disorder, and migraine may increase risk.

• Medication overuse – Frequent use of acetaminophen, NSAIDs, opioids, triptans can cause rebound headaches.

According to the American Migraine Foundation, daily tension headaches often involve peripheral pain receptors. Nerves in the head and neck muscles transmit pain signals causing frequent headaches.

Tension Headache Symptoms

Tension headaches cause dull, aching head pain described as a tight band around the head or a weight pushing down on the head. Other symptoms include:

• Pain on both sides of the head or neck
• Head or neck feels sore and tight
• Pain originating in the neck then spreading to head
• Tenderness of scalp, neck and shoulder muscles
• Pain lasting 30 minutes to several hours
• Pain may fluctuate but does not worsen with activity

Nausea, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity seen with migraines do not occur with tension headaches.

Who Gets Tension Headaches?

Tension headaches are extremely common. About 30-40% of people get occasional tension headaches. They occur across all age groups but tend to start in the teens. Chronic tension headaches usually begin in adulthood.

Risk factors for tension headaches include:

• Anxiety or depression
• Chronic stress
• Insomnia
• Forward head posture
• Neck arthritis
• Job strain – overhead work, repetitive tasks
• Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ)

Women suffer from chronic tension headaches twice as often as men. Family history also increases risk.

How Can Chiropractors Relieve Tension Headaches?

Research confirms spinal manipulation and other chiropractic therapies can effectively relieve tension headaches. A systematic review published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found:

• Spinal manipulation reduced cervicogenic (neck-related) headache intensity and frequency.
• Adding trigger point therapy increased benefits of spinal manipulation alone.
• Chiropractic therapies provided better relief than medication for tension-type headaches.

Chiropractors use hands-on techniques to relax tight muscles, restore cervical curve, improve spinal alignment, and reduce nerve irritation. Benefits often occur quickly but the greatest relief comes with regular care.

Chiropractic Tension Headache Treatments

Chiropractors tailor tension headache treatment plans to each patient but may include:

• Spinal adjustments – Gentle maneuvers to restore joint mobility and reduce nerve irritation. This helps decrease muscle tension and spasm.

• Trigger point therapy – Ischemic compression, stretching, or massage focused on painful muscle knots. Releases bound-up muscle fibers.

• Flexion-distraction – Gentle pumping action at each vertebrae to take pressure off neck. Used for disc-related headaches.

• Soft tissue massage – Relaxes tense neck muscles. Helps headaches stemming from poor posture and chronic neck strain. (See Our Post on Chronic Pain Massage Treatment)

• Exercises – Stretches tight muscles. Strengthens neck and shoulders. Corrects posture.

• Traction – Gradual, sustained pull to relieve neck muscle spasms. Also decompresses joints and discs.

Can Chiropractic Help Prevent Tension Headaches?

Yes, ongoing chiropractic care may prevent tension headaches from developing or recurring. Doctors assess spinal function and identify sources of neck/spine irritation that could contribute to headaches.

Regular adjustments help maintain proper spinal position and nerve flow to relax muscles. Other prevention tips include:

• Improving posture and ergonomics. Use chin tucks to reduce forward head position.

• Getting consistent, quality sleep. Go to bed and wake up on a schedule.

• Managing stress. Practice meditation, deep breathing, yoga.

• Staying hydrated. Drink water throughout the day.

• Avoiding skipping meals. Eat small, frequent, healthy meals and snacks.

• Exercising regularly to increase circulation and reduce stress.

• Limiting alcohol which causes dehydration and disrupts sleep.

Combining Chiropractic and Lifestyle Changes

Using chiropractic care along with healthy lifestyle changes gives the best tension headache relief. Your chiropractor can provide nutritional advice, stress management tips, and targeted exercises to uniquely support your care plan.

Give Chiropractic a Try for Safe, Effective Relief

If you regularly deal with tension headaches, chiropractic care may provide the relief you’ve been searching for. Instead of masking pain with medication, chiropractors address the root cause – muscle tension and irritation in the neck and spine.

Contact our office today to schedule a consultation. Let us develop a customized treatment plan to relieve your tension headaches so you can get back to enjoying life pain-free!

Sources:

https://www.acatoday.org/News-Publications/ACA-News-Archive/ArtMID/5721/ArticleID/147/Chiropractic-Care-Benefits-Headaches-Migraines

https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/chronic-migraine-chronic-tension-type-headache/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3716373/

https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/headaches/tension-headaches-and-chiropractic

https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/treatments/chiropractic/chiropractic-management-chronic-tension-type-headache

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18784587

FAQs

Q: What are tension headaches?

A: Tension headaches are the most common type of headaches and are often described as a feeling of pressure or tightness around the head or neck.

Q: What are the symptoms of tension headaches?

A: Symptoms of tension headaches include a dull, aching head pain, tenderness in the scalp, neck, and shoulder muscles, as well as pressure or tightness across the forehead or on the sides and back of the head.

Q: What are the common causes of tension headaches?

A: Tension headaches can be caused by stress, poor posture, jaw clenching, muscle tension, and emotional or mental stress.

Q: How do tension headaches differ from migraines?

A: Tension headaches typically cause a steady ache on both sides of the head, while migraines often cause throbbing pain on one side and can be accompanied by nausea and light sensitivity.

Q: What kind of treatment is available for tension headaches?

A: Over-the-counter pain relievers, muscle relaxants, stress management techniques, and physical therapy are common treatments for tension headaches.

Q: How can one prevent tension headaches?

A: Practice good posture, manage stress, get regular exercise, and stay hydrated to help prevent tension headaches.

Q: What can trigger tension headaches?

A: Triggers for tension headaches can include poor posture, emotional stress, anxiety, and clenching of the jaw or teeth.

Q: Are tension headaches considered chronic or episodic?

A: Tension headaches can be episodic (occurring less than 15 days a month) or chronic (occurring 15 or more days a month for at least three months).

Q: How can tension headaches be managed at home?

A: Home treatments for tension headaches include applying heat or ice to the head and neck, practicing relaxation techniques, and maintaining a regular sleep schedule.

Q: When should I seek medical attention for tension headaches?

A: It is important to seek medical attention if you experience severe or frequent tension headaches, or if your headaches are interfering with your daily activities and quality of life.