Massage Therapy can be an effective treatment for relieving tension headaches.

Headaches are THE WORST! They can range from a slight annoyance to completely debiliating. Most of us have probably experienced this at some point in our lives. There are a wide variety of causes that include chronic muscle tension, stress or even a night of too much drinking. While we can’t offer a miracle cure for your hangover, massage therapy CAN faciliate restoration in a variety of ways.

The most common type is tension headaches. Research studies have shown that in respect to tension headaches, massage can:

• reduce depression and/or anxiety
• decrease perceived pain
• decrease anger status
• decrease tension
• reduce frequency
• reduce intensity
• reduce duration
• decrease medication usage
• increase range of cervical motion

Massage therapy can provide relief from much of the muscular dysfunction that causes limitations of movement and discomfort in the head and neck.

At Salt & Sage, we will address your headache tension patterns, based on the severity of your condition, in order to determine the appropriate treatment to address your tissue. Our massage will address ALL of the head and neck muscles to help you find balance and reduce the strain on joints as much as possible.

Our goals are to:

• lengthen, separate, broaden and lift fibers to release hypertonicities
• increase your range of motion
• reduce pain
• increase circulation
• relieve joint restrictions

The posture in your shoulders, neck and head influences the condition and tonicity of your muscles. When sitting at a computer, your shoudlers can become rounded forward. Then your head starts to compensate for that posture by assuming a forward position. Imagine a turtle sticking it’s neck out their shell.

This compensation is likely to become a problem. When relocated into the forward position, the head is perceived to weigh more than it does when balanced appropriately on top of the spine. Gravity assists the head-forward posture to cause more pressure on the cervical vertebrae and stress on the posterior cervical muscles. Over time you may experience increased tension, frequent headaches, muscle tension, trigger points and your body will accept the head-forward posture.

If you experience frequent headaches, beginning your treatments on a weekly or bi-weekly basis is recommended. As your muscles begin to reset to their neutral position, you’ll noticed headaches less often. At this point, we recommend maintenance massage once a month to keep that tension at bay.

While one session is unlikely to completely resolve all of your stiffness and pain, as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, massage can surely help you feel better.