In today’s society if we have a health problem we usually head for straight for the drug store, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Massage therapy has been known to give the same relief as taking medicine and is able to get right down to the root of the problem, rather than just treating the symptoms.
Massage over prescription drugs has proven extremely affective for those who suffer from migraines.
The specific method of massage that is used when treating persistent headaches is called trigger point therapy, also referred to as deep tissue massage. Once a muscle has been injured a trigger point can form due to the muscle compensating or being over worked. The goal of trigger point therapy is to determine the point that is causing the sensations or referral of pain.
There are typically three different places that referral could be coming from in the case of a migraine or headache.
- The first is the sternocleidomastoid, which is located in the anterior neck.
- The second is the trapezius which is located in the shoulder and upper back area.
- The third can be found in muscle groups that are in the posterior neck, these areas of muscle are called the capitus and cervicis.
Once the massage therapist has found the trigger point that is causing the pain, they are able to apply the pressure that is necessary to minimize the area. After a few sessions clients should be able to at least notice a difference or be migraine/headache free.
