Headaches

Headaches are a common experience in our busy lives. They are a complex experience and often underpinned by different mechanisms including hormones, medication side-effects, stress and blood pressure. They can also be a consequence of poor posture. When individuals sit in a car or in front of a computer for long periods of time, the small postural muscles that constantly fire to keep the neck, spine and shoulders sitting in a good position become fatigued. Consequently, larger muscle groups take over this role but tend to tire out quickly because they are not designed to maintain alignment. Muscle pain and tightness can often lead to a loss of joint flexibility. When this occurs in the muscles and joints around the neck, headaches can be experienced. Treatment often involves massage to relieve the muscle soreness, joint mobilisation to loosen the stiff joints and a series of exercises to improve the strength of postural muscles and exercises to keep the neck supple.