How Can Osteopathy Help to Relieve Your Migraine?

Migraines are a lot more than a bad headache. Symptoms vary from person to person, but migraines are frequently felt as intense pain, extreme sensitivity to light and noise, visual sensations known as ‘aura’, and in some cases nausea and vomiting. There are medications available, ranging from over-the-counter painkillers to prescription drugs, but migraine sufferers frequently find that osteopathy can help relieve migraine symptoms.

Although there are common triggers to migraines – such as certain foods or environmental factors – their precise cause is still not really understood by medical science. There is no known cure and relying on medications is perhaps not the best options, which is why understanding what osteopathy is and how it can help migraine sufferers is so important.

What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a complementary therapy that focuses on the musculoskeletal system and the overall alignment and correct functioning of the body.

Osteopaths do not prescribe drugs and treat patients using a range of physical therapy techniques. These include ‘cracking’ the back or neck, and soft tissue techniques such as massage or myofascial release. Many osteopaths also use a form of acupuncture known as Western acupuncture or dry needling.

Osteopaths train for a minimum of 4 years and are regulated in the UK by the General Osteopathic Council. Osteopathy is one of the 14 allied health professions and is recognised by the NHS and by most medical insurers.

What is cranial osteopathy?

Most osteopaths work using structural osteopathy, meaning they treat patients with joint manipulation, massage and similar techniques, as described above.

Another branch of osteopathy is cranial osteopathy. This is a much gentler treatment in which the osteopath places their hands or fingertips on the patient and uses small, almost imperceptible movements to reduce tension and promote relaxation. Because it is such a gentle treatment, it is a popular treatment choice for soothing restless babies.

How Can Osteopathy Help Your Migraine?

Osteopathic treatment can have many benefits which can reduce both how often migraines occur, and how bad the symptoms are.

Reduced neck and shoulder tension

Tension in the neck and shoulders is a known case of migraines and headaches. Using a technique called a high velocity thrust, osteopaths can move the bones of the neck into a better and more natural alignment. This improves posture, promotes relaxation and reduces tension in the neck and shoulder area, meaning migraines are less likely to occur.

Osteopaths are also able to loosen tight or knotted muscles directly using massage, which also helps to reduce tension in the neck and shoulders.

Improved Blood Flow

Migraines can also be made worse if there is not as much blood flowing to the brain as there could be.

Osteopathy can help to improve blood flow by improving the alignment of the neck and reducing tension in the surrounding muscles. This allows more healthy blood to flow into the brain and reduces the chance of migraines.

Treating Contributing Factors

Osteopathy is a holistic therapy, meaning that osteopaths look at the function of the body as a whole rather than simply treating the part that hurts.

Osteopaths assess your entire biomechanics – meaning the way you stand, walk, sit and move – to understand if there are other underlying problems which could cause a chain reaction resulting in migraines.

For example, a problem with your foot or ankle could lead to you slightly changing the way you walk. Walking differently could then cause an imbalance in the hips, leading to the spine and neck becoming poorly aligned and contributing to migraines.

Osteopaths are experts at diagnosing and treating these kinds of underlying problems, which may be missed by a doctor.

What Happens at an Osteopathic Appointment?

A first appointment with an osteopath usually lasts 45 minutes to an hour, so there is plenty of time to talk, discuss, and examine the possible causes of your migraine.

Your osteopath will begin by asking you to explain your symptoms and then will normally ask you some simple questions about your general health, lifestyle and medical background. They will then move on to a physical examination, and may want to see how you stand, or how you perform simple movements like sitting or squatting.

You may need to remove some clothing for your osteopath to be able to examine you, it is worth asking your osteopath in advance what clothing would be suitable for the appointment.

Following the examination your osteopath will explain any issues they have found and normally move on to treating you immediately. They will talk to you throughout the treatment and explain any treatments you have not had before.

Some people may want to go for further treatments. You can discuss this with your osteopath, who will advise you on what is best for you.

Finding a Migraine Osteopath

Although there is no cure for migraines, osteopathy is well worth trying if migraines affect you. Most private osteopaths are not highly expensive and have no long wait times, so you can normally make an appointment within a day or two.

To begin looking for an osteopath, simply search Google or try the General Osteopathic Council or, for osteopaths in Essex, check out the Healthy Life Essex Therapists Directory.

ARTICLE BY LAURENS HOLVE

About the author:

Laurens Holve is a London-based osteopath and acupuncturist specialising in migraines. He has over 35 years experience and has worked in hospitals in both the UK and in China before moving into private practice.