Whether you feel helpless when it comes to preventing a migraine or helpless when it comes to treating a migraine, you can't help but feel enslaved by a condition that causes 91 percent of sufferers to miss work or other daily activities. Fortunately, the solution for migraine management may be simpler than you think.
Health & Fitness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
PHYSICAL THERAPY FORMIGRAINES: GETTING TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM
Health & Fitness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
GETTING TO THE ROOT OF YOUR PROBLEM Physical Therapy for Migraines:
INSIDE:
• Physical Therapy Can Help Migraine Sufferers • Healthy Recipe
• Patient Success Spotlight • Relieve Headaches In Minutes
If you are one of the 15 percent of the general population that suffers from migraines, you know that the worst part is feeling helpless. Whether you feel helpless when it comes to preventing a migraine or helpless when it comes to treating a migraine, you can't help but feel enslaved by a condition that causes 91 percent of sufferers to miss work or other daily activities. Fortunately, the solution for migraine management may be simpler than you think. What is a migraine? According to the American Migraine Foundation, a migraine attack is not considered a headache but a neurological disease. Nearly twice as many women as men are affected by migraines. Attacks are usually characterized by painful throbbing or pulsing on one side of the head, usually accompanied by changes in vision, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, or sensitivity to sound. Migraine attacks usually begin in childhood but can begin during adolescence or early adulthood. What causes a migraine attack? One of the most frustrating parts of a migraine is that there is no definitive cause, therefore there
is no definitive cure. Some researchers believe that a migraine is caused by changes in the chemicals in the brain that regulate pain. Others feel that problems in the brainstem and its interaction with certain neural pathways cause migraines. Still others believe environmental factors play a role in migraines. Diet, exercise, light, heat, stress, medication, or changes in sleep can all affect whether a person experiences a migraine attack. Other risk factors include age, family history of migraine and hormonal changes due to puberty or menopause. How is a migraine traditionally treated? Since there is no definitive cause for migraine attacks, most physicians focus on limiting the duration or severity of a person's symptoms. Medications are often prescribed that either target a person's serotonin levels or relieve pain, but stomach problems due to frequent NSAID use or medication overuse sometimes result. Many of these medications are also most effective before a person is in pain. If they react to the warning symptoms that a migraine attack is coming, many times they can avoid the worst of their symptoms.
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PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN HELP MIGRAINE SUFFERERS
One of the most promising long-term solutions for chronic migraine sufferers is physical therapy. One study showed that migraine sufferers who participated regularly in physical therapy experienced a significant reduction in their symptoms and severity. The improvement did not end with the prescribed course of physical therapy. In fact, its effect was still felt a year later when migraine sufferers reported a continued reduction in incidence and severity. Best of all, physical therapy is non-pharmacological and void of the side effects so many other medications carry. Physical Therapy for Migraines Traditionally, people think of physical therapy as a post- surgical or post-accident process designed to improve mobility and balance. While this is an important function, its scope provides a narrow picture of what physical therapy can do. Physical therapists are trained to recognize limits to the body's function and prescribe ways to restore movement, balance, strength, mobility, and harmony of the body's systems. For instance, some migraine sufferers experience neck and jaw pain that triggers an event. Physical therapists can
recognize the cause of this pain and address it with manual therapies and exercise that, in turn, relieve a person's symptoms. Even if the cause of a patient's migraine is undefined, a physical therapist's approach is ideal for identifying and addressing the underlying causes that may be contributing to a person's symptoms. Manual Therapies Physical therapists will likely perform techniques designed to improve the range of motion in the patient's neck. This may include joint mobilization techniques, massage, physiotherapy, or pressure point therapy. These manual therapy techniques reduce pain, but they also keep the head and neck moving the way they should. Manual therapies, especially massage, have also been shown to help migraine sufferers sleep better and experience attacks less frequently. Exercise Physical therapy targeted at migraines may include neck flexion exercises, postural exercises and recommendations for work or school accommodations that may help limit migraine frequency or severity. Additionally, regular aerobic exercise has been shown to reduce tension in the muscles
that may be related to migraine symptoms. It can also help a person maintain a healthy weight that is essential to balancing hormone levels that may also contribute to migraines. Physical therapists are adept at prescribing customized exercise programs for every fitness level. While there is no definitive cure for migraines, physical therapy is among the most promising ways to manage your symptoms both now and in the future. Drug-free manual therapies coupled with targeted exercise at the hands of a physical therapist may be the key to managing the frequency, duration and severity of your migraine attacks. The only way to find out if physical therapy is right for you is to contact us for a consultation. Let us help you get on the road to better management of your migraine symptoms. Sources: americanmigrainefoundation.org/understanding-migraine/ americanmigrainefoundation.org/understanding-migraine- cat/migraine-triggers/ www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3072494/
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PATIENT SUCCESS STORY
"I came to SVPT because I had been having some problems with headaches and eye strain. I had gone to see my eye doctor who did a little tweaking on my prescription and recommended a pair of glasses for computer distance. It helped tremendously with the eye strain but I was still having terrible headaches 2-3 times a week and I don’t like to take medications. After my evaluation it was determined that my long hours at my computer had led to some pretty poor postural habits that were most likely the root cause of my headaches. I was given some exercises, complete with color photos for me to do at home. My other homework was to take some measurements of my work station, such as distance to my monitor, chair height as well as keyboard placement. On my next visit Tom gave me suggestions to make my work station more ergonomically functional, to reduce the stress on my neck and help improve my posture at work. The physical therapy I received was very helpful with massage, exercises, electrical stimulation and posture training. What I like about the physical therapy was first off no medications, secondly I was expected to be an active participant in my rehab, which made me feel like I had some power over my condition. Tom is an excellent educator and very knowledgeable. Happy to say I have been headache free for the past month! Thank You, Tom and SVPT." Mary G.
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For scheduling and pricing questions please email patientrep@svpt.net Name: Phone: HEALTHY RECIPE Eating Right Never Tasted So Good! Patient Referral Program Do you want to take advantage of our Patient Referral Program but don’t have a card handy? Just clip this card from the newsletter, add YOUR name and phone number and give it to a friend or family member. For every new patient you refer we will give you your choice of a gift card to the movies (good for 2 admissions), $20.00 for coffee or tea at Peet’s or a $25.00 gift card for Le Boulanger. Remember--each patient you refer must bring in a referral card and be a NEW patient to the clinic. South Valley Physical Therapy Would Like To Say Thank You! Thank You! CALL TODAY! 408-365-8400 Fax: 408-365-8417
ARUGULA, GRAPE, AND SUNFLOWER SEED SALAD INGREDIENTS • 3 tbsp red wine vinegar • 1 tsp honey • 1 tsp maple syrup • 1/2 tsp stone-ground mustard • 2 tsps grapeseed oil • 7 cups loosely packed baby arugula • 2 cups red grapes, halved
• 2 tbsp toasted sunflower seed • 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme • 1/4 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
DIRECTIONS Combine vinegar, honey, syrup, and mustard in a small bowl. Gradually add oil, stirring with a whisk. Combine arugula, grapes, seeds, and thyme in a large bowl. Drizzle vinegar mixture over arugula; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss gently to coat.
Relieve Headaches In Minutes
Try this movement if you are experiencing migraines.
CERVICAL FLEXION STRETCH
Sit with good posture. Cross your hands behind your head. Slowly lower your chin towards your chest as far as you comfortably can. Use your arms to pull your head slightly further until you feel a gentle stretch.
Exercises copyright of
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Always consult your physical therapist or physician before starting exercises you are unsure of doing.
Does Your Friend or Family Member Need Physical Therapy? Tell Them to Check Us Out!
Do You Have Friends Or Family Unable To Do The Following? • Climb stairs without pain • Bend and move freely
If you know someone suffering with aches and pains give the gift of health. Refer them to South Valley Physical Therapy today. Pass along this newsletter or have them call us directly for a Pain Relief Consultation.
CALL TODAY! 408-365-8400 Fax: 408-365-8417
• Balance confidently and securely • Sit for long periods comfortably • Walk for long distances • Live an active and healthy lifestyle
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