Physiotherapy for Migraine Dandenong South

Physiotherapy for Migraines Dandenong South: Personalized Support to Relieve Headaches

Migraines don’t just affect the head. The thing is, during a migraine attack, sufferers experience severe and throbbing headaches, sensitivity to light or sound, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms may recur and interfere with functioning at work (for what it’s worth), school, play, in the family, and other daily activities. If musculoskeletal issues, such as muscle tension, stiffness, lack of movement and poor posture, are causing headache symptoms, then supportive care for individuals seeking Physiotherapy for Migraine Dandenong South can be provided form physiotherapy. At Innovation Physio, treatment is based on a person’s assessment and not a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Your physiotherapist will have the opportunity to assess the movement, posture, muscle tension, and mobility of your neck and upper back, as well as your habits of function and determine whether factors that may be relevant to your symptoms are present. Treatment involves hands-on techniques, mobility exercises, posture education, strengthening and relaxation strategies and an individualized home exercise program depending on the assessment. Physiotherapy should not be used in place of a medical evaluation or medication for migraine, if this is needed, but can be used as part of a wider headache management strategy. When headaches are frequent, severe, worsening in type and/or accompanied by unusual neurologic symptoms, medical evaluation should always be considered. 

How Innovation Physio Can Help With Migraine?

The initial visit to a physiotherapist for migraine is a chance to learn about your migraine and see if physiotherapy is suitable for you. Your physio might ask you about the frequency of your headaches, how long they last, where they feel them, whether they involve your neck and shoulders and what things seem to make them better or worse. They may also inquire about your work environment, physical activity level, sleep habits and previous musculoskeletal problems. A physical examination will then be able to determine which movement patterns, muscle tension, posture or muscle weakness and lack of control are relevant. Plain and simple, these results can even help you choose a treatment tailored to your needs. Manual therapy for migraine headaches may include gentle direct treatment (hands-on techniques) to be specifically targeted at the upper back or surrounding soft tissues, or the neck when clinically appropriate. Gentle mobility exercises may allow for comfortable movement and strengthening exercises may improve the support and control of the neck, shoulders and upper back. Your physiotherapist may also suggest modifications to your work or activity area or your everyday activity. Importantly, the intensity of treatment can be modified based on the level of symptoms and tolerance. Treatment in the clinic may be combined with simple exercises at home, in a personalised treatment plan. This can enable migraine treatment physiotherapy to be practical and easier to fit into your normal routine, as well as our full range of services.

Neck Pain, Posture and Musculoskeletal Factors in Headache Management

Neck and shoulder symptoms are often found in conjunction with various types of headaches, but not all headaches are related to the neck. In some, limited cervical mobility and/or muscle tension or chronic loading of posture may apply to their symptom picture. If the headache is accompanied by neck pain, this is a good indication to explore neck pain physiotherapy and cervical physiotherapy. Extended sitting times, prolonged computer use, and driving and smartphone use are part of modern lifestyles. Sustained demands are made on the neck, shoulders and upper back when held in one position for extended periods of time. Movement variety, ergonomic habits, muscle capacity, comfortable positioning are all areas that physiotherapy can concentrate on, rather than attempting to keep the neck and spine in a “perfectly” rigid position for all of the day. The treatment at Innovation Physio can be customized to the activities that are important to you. This may include enhancing the mobility of the upper back, reinforcing the muscle groups in the shoulders and neck, learning controlled neck motions or movement breaks using strategies. Thus, when appropriate, physiotherapy for migraine may be incorporated as part of a holistic musculoskeletal physiotherapy treatment. Your physiotherapist can also assist you in identifying symptoms that might benefit from physiotherapy and symptoms that would require a referral to another health care professional. This holistic approach enables treatment to remain focused, safe and relevant to your presentation and not just the headache itself. 

Physiotherapy for Migraine Dandenong South
untitled

Why Choose Innovation Physio for Physiotherapy for Migraine Dandenong South?

Deciding on the best physiotherapy clinic is important if you are having persistent headaches, neck pain or symptoms related to your movements. At Innovation Physio physiotherapy is personalised, plans are made around the person’s presentation, functional requirements and goals. The assessment can help to identify if your symptoms are related to musculoskeletal problems and if physiotherapy is recommended as part of your treatment. Manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, mobility work, strengthening, postural education and home exercise protocols can be used as part of the treatment, contingent on your assessment. Focus is on helping you to grasp what factors affect your movement and how you can adopt sustainable strategies that don’t just involve passive treatment. If you have headaches with neck stiffness, shoulder tension, decreased mobility or postural issues in the upper back, your physiotherapist can modify the program to accommodate you. Innovation Physio also recognizes that the symptoms and lifestyle of each individual is unique. This means your program can be tweaked accordingly as your movement and tolerance increases. If migraine or headache is affecting your life, you may wish to get the advice of a qualified healthcare professional about what to do. Physiotherapy might be a useful adjunctive treatment to consider in this high-risk group, particularly those that have MS complaints as well as headache. 

When is it time to try Physiotherapy for Migraine?

If you have a headache that occurs often, as well as neck pain and stiffness, shoulder tension, less mobility, or any other musculoskeletal symptoms, you may wish to see a physiotherapist for migraine treatment. Your health care professional may also have some discussion regarding physiotherapy if sitting for long periods of time, computer work, or some physical activities seem to affect your symptoms. 

If you’re looking for information on whether your symptoms are due to movement or musculoskeletal factors, a physiotherapy assessment may be helpful. Your physiotherapist can evaluate your physical function and discuss with you what strategies may be appropriate.

But not all headaches warrant physiotherapy treatment. Seek medical attention right away if a headache: suddenly, is very strong or unusual; or with any of the following symptoms: weakness, confusion, fainting, difficulty speaking, difficulty seeing, fever, severe stiff neck or any other worrying neurological symptom. If there is a significant change in pattern of headache or if a new pattern of headache occurs, then the headache should be assessed by a suitable medical practitioner. 

Your Next Steps for Migraine Physiotherapy in South Dandenong

Migraine symptoms can even be very frustrating especially if migraine headaches interfere with work, exercise, sleep or daily activities. If musculoskeletal factors are contributing to your migraine symptoms, some support from physiotherapy may be beneficial in managing your migraine but this can differ from person to person. Physiotherapy for Migraine Dandenong South is based on Innovation Physio’s assessment, treatment and practical strategies tailored to your needs. Before deciding on a treatment plan, your physiotherapist will examine your movement, posture, neck and upper back function and muscular factors. This can be manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, mobility work, strengthening and education, depending on your presentation. The aim is to make you aware of your physical symptoms and to help you move and function safely and structure in an improved way. For people who have regular headaches and/or neck or musculoskeletal issues, a personal assessment by physiotherapy may be beneficial to check if physiotherapy is an appropriate treatment. If you are having headache symptoms,  Contact Innovation Physio and see if a personalised approach to physiotherapy in Dandenong South can be incorporated into your overall headache management plan. 

FAQ's

Physiotherapy may be useful for those suffering from musculoskeletal problems such as postural tension, (or so it seems) muscle tension, reduced mobility and stiff neck, which can also be associated with migraines. Plain and simple, this can be assessed and an individual treatment plan can be developed by a physiotherapist. Physiotherapy isn’t a replacement for proper medical treatment for migraines, but can be used in conjunction.

Treatment for Migraine Dandenong South in physiotherapy can consist of an assessment of your neck, upper back, shoulders, posture, and movement. Physiotherapy treatment for Migraine Dandenong South can incorporate techniques such as mobilizations, exercises, strength training, posture correction, and even an individual home exercise plan.

Physiotherapy is useful if your headache symptoms are related to limited neck movement, muscle tension — or a stiff neck. Here’s what’s really going on: the reality is, after an individual assessment, your physiotherapist will be able to decide whether a treatment is suitable for your neck and upper back or not.

The number of physiotherapy sessions required will be determined by your symptoms, assessment, treatment objectives and how you respond to treatment. Your physiotherapist will be able to provide you with a time plan and appropriate exercises or strategies to do at home between physiotherapy sessions.

Because migraine is a neurological condition, medical assessment is important when experiencing migraines, especially migraines that are new, severe, or changing. When there are musculoskeletal factors in play, physiotherapy can be a supportive treatment. For sudden severe headache and/or neurological symptoms, please seek urgent medical attention, not physiotherapy.