Headaches can affect your sleep, productivity and quality of life. While there are many possible causes, muscle tension, stress and poor posture can contribute to recurring headaches. Remedial Massage Therapists and Myotherapists can help relieve muscular tension and support your overall wellbeing.
How Can Massage Help Relieve Headaches?
Different types of headaches require different approaches. Massage therapy may be particularly beneficial for tension-type headaches and headaches associated with neck and shoulder stiffness.
Common headache types include:
- Tension headaches: Often feel like a dull ache or tight pressure around the head, frequently accompanied by tight neck and shoulder muscles.
- Migraines: Can cause throbbing pain, nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Massage may help some people manage associated muscle tension and stress.
- Cervicogenic headaches: Originate from issues in the neck and may cause pain that travels towards the head or behind the eyes.
- Jaw-related headaches: Tension in the jaw and facial muscles can contribute to pain around the temples and head.
Stress, poor posture, prolonged desk work and sleep disturbances may also contribute to headaches.
The Benefits of Massage Therapy for Headaches
Remedial Massage Therapists and Myotherapist can tailor treatments to individual needs. Depending on symptoms, a session may focus on the neck, shoulders, scalp, temples or jaw.
Massage therapy may help by:
- Releasing muscle tension: Relieving tightness in the neck and shoulders that can contribute to tension headaches.
- Reducing stress: Promoting relaxation and helping manage stress-related headache triggers.
- Improving neck mobility: Addressing muscle stiffness that may restrict comfortable movement.
- Supporting better sleep: Encouraging relaxation, which may help improve sleep quality.
- Managing headache symptoms: Some people experience reduced headache intensity or frequency with regular massage, although results vary depending on the type and cause of the headache.
For some people, a combination of Remedial Massage Therapy, Pilates and Exercise Physiology may also help address contributing factors such as posture, movement habits and muscle endurance.
Steps You Can Take for Immediate and Long-term Results
If headaches are affecting your daily life, The Body Refinery’s Remedial Massage Therapists or Myotherapist can work with you to identify areas of muscular tension and develop a treatment approach to address immediate symptoms, as well as minimising future occurrences.
Located in New Farm, The Body Refinery offers a range of allied health services to support your movement, recovery and wellbeing.
Ready to experience the benefits of massage? Contact The Body Refinery to book your massage on 3358 3915 or through our App.
Please note: Massage may help manage some headache symptoms, but it is not suitable for every cause of headache. Seek medical advice for persistent or worsening headaches. A sudden, severe headache or headache accompanied by symptoms such as weakness, confusion or vision loss requires urgent medical assessment.
