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It is estimated that over 37 million people in the United States suffer from severe headaches. That number doesn’t include all the rest of us who have minor or infrequent headaches, which the majority of us have experienced. Besides back pain, headaches are actually the most common reason cited for visits to the chiropractor. While many people never seek out the root cause of their headaches and assume it’s a normal ailment, those who visit a Bozeman chiropractor know that proper spinal adjustments can offer long-term relief from the pain of headaches.
While headache is a catch-all term, there are actually many classifications that headaches can fall into. However, the majority of headache types and cases can be traced back to a single source: misalignments of the spine. The spine controls the central nervous system, which is responsible for sending messages to all other parts of the body. When the spine is misaligned, this communication process is interrupted, leading to various forms of dysfunction and pain. This can manifest as headaches.
The most common type of headaches is a tension headache, which is rooted in the upper neck alignment; another form is sinus headaches which are caused by a buildup of pressure due to nerve interference. While these headaches tend to occur more frequently and with less severe discomfort, those suffering from migraines may have completely debilitating symptoms that affect day to day life, and cluster headaches can last for weeks on end.
Though these headaches may have varying symptoms and severity, in most cases, a misalignment of the spine is at fault.
Many people turn to over-the-counter medications for relief from headaches, and while this offers short-term relief, the headaches often return with a vengeance. Additionally, you expose yourself to the side-effects of medication. Rather than focus on hiding symptoms, chiropractic care focuses on correcting the root issue to offer long-term health and relief.
Because headaches are a common reason to seek chiropractic care, many studies have been done that demonstrate the benefits. One study looked at 100 people who were offered either medication or chiropractic care to treat their headaches; both groups saw immediate results. However, after the treatment was stopped, those taking medication had their symptoms return, while those who underwent chiropractic adjustments had continued relief.
This can be true even for more severe forms of headaches, like migraines. A case study showed a woman who suffered from severe migraines for 40 years, with symptoms like nausea and visual disturbances accompanying the pain. She underwent 6 months of consistent chiropractic adjustments and reported having no migraines going forward.
At Waypoint Chiropractic in Bozeman, MT, we focus on the science behind chiropractic and its effectiveness in providing long-term relief for headaches and other pain. When you visit us, Dr. Cary Gentry will examine your spine for any misalignments and you will receive gentle and specific adjustments that help your body to function as intended.
Contact us today to schedule your first appointment and begin your path towards relief. Waypoint Chiropractic serves the cities of Bozeman, Belgrade, Big Sky, Manhattan, and Three Forks.
Boline, P.D., Kassak, K., Bronfort, G., Nelson, C., Anderson, A.V. “Spinal Manipulation vs. Amitriptyline for the Treatment of Chronic Tension-Type Headaches: A Randomized Clinical Trial.” Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Mar-Apr 1995; 18(3): 148-54. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7790794
Chaibia, A., Tuchinb, P.J. “Chiropractic spinal manipulative treatment of migraine headache of 40-year duration using Gonstead method: a case study.” Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 2011 Sep; 10(3): 189–193. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3259914/
