Dry needling and headaches
Headaches are the most common pain complaint in the world with 90% of people experiencing them at some stage in life. There are many different types of headache and if this is your first or worst headache you’ll need to visit your GP first to clear you for physiotherapy treatment.
Dry needling can be helpful for headaches which arise from trigger points in the muscles in the neck. Myofascial trigger points can occur when muscles are overworked or stressed.
Trigger points in neck muscles are common in those who have desk jobs, who spend a lot of time typing or using the mouse. Often new mums or those with young children who are repeatedly bending or lifting will also have problems with these muscles. Your physiotherapist will carry out a detailed assessment. This will include taking a thorough history of your condition and assessing the movement and strength of your neck and your posture. If trigger points are found to be contributing to your headaches then dry needling of relevant muscles such as trapezius, levator scapula and masseter will be recommended. Your physiotherapist will also address stiffness in your neck joints and your posture.
Dry needling along with other physiotherapy techniques can be used both to treat and to prevent headaches.
