15% of us get migraine headaches. That’s 3 out of 20 Richmond folks experience migraines according to research data. (1) Migraine is a malady patients come to Johnson Chiropractic for relief.  Managing migraines remains challenging. It requires an understanding of the anatomical contributing factors as well as various options for its pain control. Johnson Chiropractic stands ready to offer chiropractic care as a part of the migraine management team.

Typically, migraine is managed with medication sometimes even propanolol and topiramate as preventatives. Side effects and preference to avoid medications may send patients seeking alternative options. Chiropractic spinal manipulation is among some manual therapies that may be just as effective along with massage therapy, physiotherapy, and relaxation. (1) Johnson Chiropractic offers gentle, relaxing Cox Technic for the cervical spine that fellow Richmond chiropractic patients find quite relieving and effective.

Now, research shows that trigger point therapy to the sternomastoid muscle reduces headache and neck pain greater than a placebo therapy. It also increases motor performance of the cervical flexors, pressure pain thresholds, and active range of motion in individuals with cervicogenic headache. (2) Chiropractic spinal manipulation using Cox Technic may well add an extra element to your Richmond chiropractic treatment plan to improve cervical spine range of motion as well.

For example, one patient who suffered with headaches of 5 months' duration and a history of episodic migraine that began in her teens which had been controlled with medication found relief with chiropractic spinal manipulation and acupuncture. This relief came after 5 chiropractic treatments in 2 weeks.  At a year follow up, she reports no recurrences. Chiropractic care was an effective alternative in managing her chronic tension-type headaches superimposed with migraine. (3)

So is neck pain related to migraine? You bet! For many migraine sufferers, neck pain related disability lurks. The more often the migraine attacks come on, the more neck pain disability shows itself. The more neck pain disability, the higher the risk of migraine chronicity. A vicious cycle. (4) Richmond chiropractic may be a way to break that cycle.

So contact Johnson Chiropractic if you suffer with headache and migraine. The Richmond chiropractic treatments may complement your current management plan and even offer more relief. Johnson Chiropractic looks forward to working with you.