Physical Therapy and Migraines

I have been treating more patients with migraines lately and have learned how absolutely debilitating this condition can be for many. Migraines represent a large health problem worldwide and unfortunately, it is widely misunderstood and under-treated.

Migraines have different phases, and it is important to understand which treatment approach to take depending on the phase. Your neurologist may have prescribed certain medications or supplements for prevention, or acute and rescue meds to help you break the migraine cycle. 

Your neurologist can also help you figure out what your triggers might be including disease, diet, allergies, stress, hydration, hormones, sleep, or physical activity. With this information, they can help you figure out what your next step is and point you to the right provider who can help you optimize your pain relief. 

Physical Therapy is a great support and complements the medical therapy discussed with your neurologist. 

This is because Physical Therapy can help you figure out your physical triggers by addressing musculoskeletal dysfunction, especially in the cervicothoracic region (neck and mid/upper back) as well as vestibular dysfunction (more on vestibular migraines soon). 

It is important to assess the range of motion in the neck, upper back, and even your TMJ, muscle sensitivity in the craniofacial area, posture, proprioception, and muscle strength, function, and endurance. 

Most people I see are looking to get back to a workout routine but simply can’t. Once they try to start a workout routine again, they end up flaring up their symptoms and giving up. A key factor to keep in mind is that you can’t continue to stimulate an overactive nervous system, first, you have to systematically calm it down, then work toward attaining higher levels of activity and strength. 

My treatment approach does just that, and I am very excited to see how my patients are trusting the process and are gradually able to increase levels of activity and return to enjoying the physical activities they love. 

If you know someone who suffers from migraines, send this their way. Maybe this is the missing link that can help them find the relief they need.