Chiropractic Care Provides Long-Term Relief for Headache Sufferers
A report from the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research shows that patients under chiropractic care have fewer and less intense headaches.
Researchers reviewed data from over 2,500 sources. They compared how patients responded to various treatments, including chiropractic, acupuncture, medications, exercise, and relaxation techniques.
The findings were clear: chiropractic adjustments led to immediate improvements in headache severity. Even better, when compared to soft-tissue therapies like massage, chiropractic care produced long-term relief from both the frequency and intensity of headaches.
Interestingly, the initial effect of chiropractic care was similar to the relief provided by the drug amitriptyline. However, 82% of the patients who took the drug experienced side effects. In contrast, those who received chiropractic care saw continued improvement—without adverse reactions. After stopping the drug, patients often returned to their original levels of headache pain. Chiropractic patients, on the other hand, continued to improve.
What Does That Mean?
Simply put, chiropractic care helps your body function better. When your body functions well, healing can happen naturally. Medications, however, often mask symptoms without addressing the real cause. True healing comes when the body is restored to optimal function.
Why So Many People Still Suffer From Headaches
If you’re among the 80 million Americans who suffer from headaches, you’re not alone. But that doesn’t mean you have to accept it.
Headaches aren’t “normal,” and they’re not something you should have to live with. There’s often more that can be done than just taking medication.
Consider this:
Medications can’t fix the root cause of a headache. They only block the pain. But while the pain is masked, the real problem may worsen. Imagine a fire alarm going off in your house. Would you just turn it off and let the house burn?
Chiropractic and Migraine Relief
Many patients with migraines experience significant relief through chiropractic care.
The Spinal Connection to Headaches
Whether it’s you or someone close to you, chances are someone is suffering from chronic headaches. These painful episodes can interfere with work and everyday life. Fortunately, there’s hope.
Modern research confirms that chiropractic care can reduce or eliminate many types of headaches—including tension, cervicogenic, and migraines.
Why Is Chiropractic So Effective?
Because it targets the root cause instead of masking symptoms. For many people, the source of head pain lies in the neck, not the head.
One common cause is a spinal condition known as vertebral subluxation. This misalignment or restricted movement in the spine—especially in the neck—can trigger headaches. The good news? Chiropractic care can correct these issues gently and effectively.
What Is a Vertebral Subluxation?
A vertebral subluxation occurs when a vertebra is misaligned or stuck. This often happens in the neck, leading to a loss of the neck’s natural curve (sometimes called “military neck”).
These subluxations can develop from poor posture, a sedentary lifestyle, or emotional stress.
How Subluxations Cause Headaches
Your spine is made up of stacked bones (vertebrae) cushioned by discs. Muscles and tendons connect these bones to the rest of your body, including your head. The spinal cord runs through the center, carrying nerve signals between the brain and body.
Subluxations can interfere with this system in two main ways:
- Muscular Dysfunction
Misaligned vertebrae create muscle tension. When muscles in the neck tighten, that tension can radiate upward into the head, triggering pain. - Nerve Interference
Subluxations may compress or irritate nerves, interrupting signals to and from the brain. This nerve disruption can contribute to headaches, particularly those that originate in the neck or upper back.
How Chiropractic Care Helps
Chiropractors use a gentle technique called an adjustment to correct subluxations. These adjustments restore movement, improve alignment, and reduce nerve and muscle tension—helping eliminate the root cause of your headaches.
Headaches Are More Common Than You Think
Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Some experience them occasionally, while others deal with them daily. The pain can range from mild to debilitating.
So, what’s your go-to solution? Do you push through the pain, lie down, or reach for a pill? There’s a better, drug-free alternative.
Research shows that spinal adjustments—a core part of chiropractic care—can help reduce tension headaches and those that begin in the neck.
What Triggers Headaches?
Headaches can be caused by:
Certain foods
Environmental factors (light, sound, smells)
Lifestyle habits (poor sleep, skipping meals, posture)
Only about 5% of headaches are due to serious medical conditions. The remaining 95% are known as primary headaches—caused by tension, migraines, or clusters. These can often be helped with lifestyle changes and chiropractic care.
“Most primary headaches stem from muscle tension in the neck,” says Dr. George McClelland, a chiropractor from Virginia.
Spending hours at a desk or looking down at your phone can strain your neck and shoulders—leading to pain that radiates into your head.
What You Can Do Today
The American Chiropractic Association recommends:
Stretch every 30–60 minutes if you sit for long periods
Try low-impact exercises like walking
Avoid clenching your teeth (it stresses your jaw)
Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily to prevent dehydration
What Chiropractors Do for Headache Sufferers
Your chiropractor may:
Adjust your spine to relieve pressure and restore balance
Provide nutritional advice, including supplements like B vitamins
Offer exercises and ergonomic guidance for better posture
Teach stress-reduction techniques to ease tension
Chiropractors are trained to treat more than back pain. They understand how spinal tension affects your whole body—and they know how to help.
The Four Most Common Headaches—and How Chiropractic Helps
- Tension Headaches
Symptoms: A dull, band-like pain starting at the base of the skull and wrapping around the head. Often worse at the end of the day.
Causes: Poor posture, long hours at a desk, stress, or jaw tension (TMJ).
Solutions: Chiropractic adjustments, stretches, ergonomic changes, massage, and stress management.
- Migraine Headaches
Symptoms: Throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head, sensitivity to light/sound, nausea, and visual disturbances.
Causes: Genetics, stress, food triggers (e.g., MSG, alcohol), and environmental factors.
Solutions: Identify and avoid triggers, try natural remedies like cayenne, and receive chiropractic care to reduce tension and improve alignment.
- Cluster Headaches
Symptoms: Severe, stabbing pain near one eye; often includes tearing and nasal symptoms. Occurs in cycles.
Causes: Alcohol, smoking, sleep disruptions, dehydration, or chemical exposure.
Solutions: Avoid triggers, try oxygen therapy, get plenty of water, and seek chiropractic care for muscle tension.
- Sinus Headaches
Symptoms: Pressure and pain around the eyes, cheeks, or forehead; possible fever or sinus drainage.
Causes: Allergies, pollutants, infections, or food sensitivities.
Solutions: Drink hot water, use a Neti pot, improve air quality with filters, avoid allergens, and try chiropractic care to relieve facial tension.
The Bottom Line
Headaches are your body’s way of signaling that something is off. Instead of just covering the pain, chiropractic care addresses the underlying cause.
You don’t have to live with headaches. Discover how chiropractic care can restore your health and comfort—naturally.
Call today to see how we can help: 978.448.WELL