Headaches, especially tension headaches, can be a very common ailment. Tension headaches are characterized by a dull, aching pain in the head. Tension headaches are often brought on by stress and are most common in adults. There are two types of tension headaches – episodic and chronic. Episodic tension headaches occur less than 15 days a month during a three-month span. Whereas chronic tension headaches are more serious and occur more than 15 days a month in a three-month span.
What causes headaches?
The exact cause of tension headaches is not know. However, tension headaches often have similar triggers, such as stress, anxiety, fatigue, and substance abuse.
What are the symptoms of a tension headache?
- Dull, aching pain in head
- Pressure in forehead
- Tight band sensation in the forehead
- Stiff or sore neck and shoulders
Dr. Petersen is well trained to correctly diagnose and treat tension headaches. See below for all of the “tools” in Dr. Petersen’s “tool chest” to treat tension headaches.
Tests
Dr. Petersen will ask the important questions to allow him to determine if a tension headache is the cause of your pain.
Treatments
Treatments are broken down into three segments:
- Chiropractic treatment with spinal adjustments and manual therapy work
- Exercise and proper stretching
Custom and effective physiotherapy regiment to both decrease pain and restore proper function - Physiotherapy Techniques
- Class 4 laser
- Graston Technique Therapy
Successful in effectively treating all soft tissue conditions, whether they are chronic, acute or post- surgical. - ART active release technique
- E-stim
Electric muscle stimulation using a device that delivers electronic pulses to motor nerves through electrodes placed on the skin, causing a motor response to achieve a number of desired results. - Cold laser
Cold laser therapy is low-intensity laser therapy that stimulates healing while using low levels of light. Different wavelengths and outputs of low-level light are applied directly to a targeted area where the body tissue then absorbs the light. The red and near-infrared light cause a reaction and the damaged cells respond with a physiological reaction that promotes regeneration.