We all know the feeling; sensitivity to light and sound, the inability to concentrate, the pain and discomfort that pulls from between the shoulder blades, up the back of the neck, all the way to the temples and right behind the eyes. That feeling like someone is taking all of your upper body muscles and wringing them out like an old, wet bath towel. We have all felt them coming on and at times, we have all felt powerless to stop them. Tension headaches.
With daily environmental, societal and work stresses, tension headaches are the most common headache experienced among adults. According to The National Headache Foundation, there are two kinds of tension headaches; episodic and chronic and their symptoms are very similar. Between 30 and 80 percent of the population experiences occasional, or episodic, tension-type headaches, while only 3 percent experience chronic tension-type headaches. Women are said to be twice as likely to experience tension headaches than men.
So what are the best ways to utilize massage therapy to find immediate relief from such a debilitating day changer, like a tension headache? Most importantly, you should find a highly skilled massage therapist who specializes in upper body and neck focused treatments. It’s best to find a massage therapist who is specially trained to hone in on the exact source of your muscular tension, is intuitive in finding chronic tension patterns and capable of utilizing a combination of advanced massage skills.
Best Massage Techniques To Relieve Headache Pain
- Deep Tissue Massage
- Trigger Point
- Myofascial Release
- Cranio-Sacral
- Pressure Point
Massage therapist and East Bridge Massage owner, Clare Katner, recommends a beginning treatment plan of 1-3 visits in your first month to resolve chronic tension patterns. Many people feel the results in as little as one session. Our Portland, Oregon massage practice is open seven days a week, give us a call today to book your tension headache relieving massage!