4 Chiropractic Services That Could Improve Migraines
If you are dealing with chronic migraines, you may be looking for ways to manage your symptoms without frequent medication usage. You may want to reach out to a chiropractor for alternative therapy ideas. Here are four services that could potentially help your condition.
Dietary Counseling
While some people think dietary counseling is only for losing weight, this service can be incredibly valuable for several medical conditions, like migraines. Some patients may find enough relief from their migraines with dietary counseling, while some chiropractors may recommend this service in combination with others.
Some foods can be migraine triggers, so your chiropractor can help you work up an elimination diet so that you can narrow down these triggers. For example, migraine sufferers often have sensitivities to dairy products, baked goods with yeast, and/or fruit juices. Besides looking at your diet, your chiropractor can offer supplements for any nutritional deficiencies. Deficiencies in magnesium, Vitamin D, niacin, and riboflavin are all associated with migraines.
Spinal Adjustments
Poor posture from misaligned vertebrae can lead to tension in your upper back, neck, and shoulders. This muscle tension can contribute to migraine development. During spinal adjustments, your chiropractor will apply a controlled force to any vertebrae that are misaligned. When the spine is properly aligned, there is less pressure on nerves and less tension in your body. While more studies need to be conducted, one study found that spinal manipulation could be an effective way to reduce the intensity of migraines and the length of migraine days.
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger point therapy is a type of massage that focuses on sensitive areas of connective tissue (fascia) known as trigger points. Trigger points can be caused by muscle overuse, such as repetitive physical activities, injuries, psychological stress, and poor posture. Like misaligned vertebrae, trigger points in the head, neck, or shoulders can lead to migraines. During a trigger point massage, your chiropractor will apply various levels of pressure to relieve taut muscles and restore range of motion. This massage should improve blood flow, relieve stress, and hopefully prevent or reduce migraine symptoms.
TENS Unit Therapy
A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit is a small battery-powered device that transfers short bursts of electrical pulses through electrodes on the skin. TENS unit therapy doesn't hurt; you may feel a light tingling sensation when the electrodes are on your skin. The electrical currents disrupt the neurotransmitters that are associated with migraine pain. One review found that TENS unit technology was improving enough that it could be an effective, low-cost therapy for migraines.
These are just a few options for migraine therapy. Reach out to your chiropractor for more details today.