Tension headache complaints

Tension headaches are the most common cause of headaches in humans. About 80% of headache complaints are caused by this type of headache. This type of headache is often described as a feeling of a tight band over the head. People who suffer from this condition often also have difficulty sleeping and eating.

Don’t keep walking around with your complaint and make an appointment!

What is a tension headache?

Tension headache is a form of headache, the pain often starts in our neck muscles/back of your head and moves forward, so that it eventually involves your neck, scalp and head. This condition is often described as feeling like you have a tight band over your head.

Tension headache and the treatment of the physiotherapist.

Dry needling therapy is a part of trigger point therapy, which is an effective method for combating headache complaints. Dry needling is an efficient treatment method for myofascial problems: pain and stiffness as a result of trigger points in muscles. Dry needling involves inserting a ‘dry’ (acupuncture) needle, without the addition of medication, into the affected muscle(s). The concept is based on anatomical and neurophysiological principles and is not classical acupuncture.

Discover how others have been helped

The specialists at Cardo Healthcare have already helped many people with tension headaches. We often see that these complaints have a deeper cause. That is why we need to look further and tackle the ‘roots’, otherwise your headache will never go away.

What are the causes?

The complaints are often caused by sitting in the same position for a long time, for example computer work. It can also be caused by stress, one-sided work, but sometimes there is no apparent cause. If a headache occurs 15 or more days per month for a number of months, we can consider the headache as chronic tension headache. If they occur less often, we speak of episodic tension headache. Although this condition can be painful and especially annoying, they are rarely a sign of a more serious illness. A combination of lifestyle changes, relaxation techniques, and traditional and complementary therapies can contribute to reducing these headaches. In our practice, we see that ‘trigger points’ are a common cause of headache complaints. Through trigger point/dry needling therapy, we achieve very good results for people.

What are the signs and symptoms?

Tension headaches are always experienced as very annoying. However, the symptoms can vary. Below is an overview of the symptoms of tension headaches for which you can contact our physiotherapist for treatment:

• Headaches start with pain in the neck/back of your head and spread to the front.
• Dull pressure or a pinching pain, often described as a tight band around the head.
• Muscles in your neck, shoulders and jaw feel tight and painful.
• Headaches can occur on one side or both sides.
• People may have difficulty sleeping or eating.
• Make sure you get enough sleep.
• Eat a healthy diet (acid-base balance).
• Regular exercise.
• Quit smoking.
• Use relaxation techniques.

Lifestyle Matters for Tension Headaches

Keeping a headache diary can help you identify the source of your tension headaches and how to change your environment and habits to avoid them. When a headache starts, write down the date and time it started. Note what you ate in the previous 24 hours, how long you slept the night before, what you were doing just before the headache, any unusual stresses in your life, how long the headache lasted, and what you did to make it stop.

Trigger points in your neck as a cause of tension headaches

Nowadays we increasingly see that tension headaches are caused by too much tension in our neck muscles. This tension in our neck is caused by NeuroMuscular Trigger Points (NMTrPs). NMTrPs are micro-cramps in muscles that feel like small painful connective tissue hardenings or ‘knots’. Trigger points are the most common cause of tension headaches and can be treated well with trigger point therapy (dry needling).

Trigger points are mainly caused by incorrect use of our muscles. For example, we think of; overload, one-sided work, an accident, but also underload, stress or poor nutrition. This often results in a disruption of the acid-base and hormone balance, which results in trigger points. Active trigger points often cause referred pain (radiating pain) and other discomforts in a different place than where the cramp is located. Well-known examples are (tension) headaches from the neck and shoulders or RSI/CANS (Complaints of the Arm, Neck and/or Shoulder).

Contact us about your complaints

Do you also suffer from tension headaches and are you looking for suitable treatment by a physiotherapist? Then please feel free to contact us. You can do this by filling in our online contact form. We will be happy to discuss the possible treatments with you during your intake.