For a majority of sufferers, migraines feel like a much higher, scaled-up version of a conventional tension headache. They tend to target one region of the head, and can be extremely painful for the bearer.
There are a number of factors that contribute to this condition, including possible hormonal changes (namely the rise and drop of estrogen levels in women), a person’s diet, stress, physical exercise, and enhanced exposure to sensory stimuli such as sunlight.
Do Away With the Pain
While the reasons why migraines occur are still unknown, this list of “triggers” causes a great deal of pain and discomfort to millions of patients; more than 3 million new cases are diagnosed each year. One source of relief that many migraine sufferers are unaware of lies in the form of massages.
This might come as a surprise, given the fact that massage therapy has been used to treat various health conditions for thousands of years. Keep in mind that although there is no permanent cure for migraines, regular visits to your massage therapist can significantly reduce the intensity and frequency of your headaches.
However, a number of patients have reported a virtual disappearance of the condition with continued therapy, especially those who turn to massage as their primary mode of treatment. And as any migraine sufferer knows, this is much desired information.
The Power of Massage Therapy for Migraine Patients
When it comes to treating migraines, the success of massage therapy is contingent on how well the therapist understands the patient’s specific circumstances. He or she must be thoroughly aware of the particular triggers, migraine patterns (region of the head affected and the level of intensity), as well as how the individual’s body reacts to all of this.
The more your massage therapist knows what to look for, the more capable they will be to get rid of the discomfort. Therefore, as a patient, you want to be as detailed as possible about all of this, as well as let your therapist know of any past head trauma you may have incurred. Tense head and neck muscles can result in inflammation and put undue pressure on nerves and pain receptors.
The combination of relaxation, increased blood circulation, stress-relief (and boosted serotonin levels) are what make massage therapy such a potent treatment for migraines. Instead of masking the pain with medication, a deep tissue massage gets at the source of the problem.
For more information, talk to the Physiomobility team today.
