Do you suffer from migraines?
Well…you are not alone. Those who suffer with migraines (approx 1 in 7 worldwide) – it’s more than just a headache migraines can be debilitating and last quite a few days.
What is a migraine?
A migraine is marked by moderate to severe pain and throbbing in the head, and are often accompanied by nausea as well as sensitivity to light or sound. Continuing on with your daily routine will often not be possible and if it’s bad you’ll probably just want to lie down in a dark room and try to sleep it off.
In some cases, these painful headaches can also occur with sensory warning like flashes of light, blindspots or even tingling in the body. They can be triggered by a variety of things but some common ones are high levels of stress, muscular tension, hormonal changes and even weather changes.
How can massage therapy help manage migraines?
Massage can be a great and highly effective way to manage migraines if you suffer from them. By having regular treatments to manage stress and release muscular tension and stiffness so that it does not build up to the point of the migraine being triggered. Massage therapy can decrease the occurrence of headaches, migraines, sleep disturbance and stress symptoms.
Massage therapy has been studied and shown to be an effective measure for reducing both chronic migraines and tension headaches. Massage also eases the muscle tension in the neck, jaw, and shoulders, which can cause headaches in the first place. Research has shown that a professional therapeutic massage can decrease pain, tension, duration, intensity, and frequency of headaches.
What’s the best time to get a massage for migraine?
A regular massage therapy program may be the best way to lessen the impact of migraines on your life. I’d recommend once a month, if that’s not possible the next best thing is at the first sign of a migraine starting. If you catch it early enough, you may be able to prevent a full-blown attack.
