Headaches? Here is some help at home.

Headache Help at Home

Dr. Livia Chiarelli

Headaches are one of the most common health complaints of people presenting to my office.  The World Health Organization (www.who.int) estimate that 47% of the world’s population has had a headache at least once in the last year.  

Although there are several different types of headaches, 150 diagnostic headache categories approximately, tension headaches are the most common type of headache.  Tension headaches are often a result of neck tightness, poor posture, stress or fatigue.  

Tension headaches feel like constant pressure or a band around the head and are often helped by over the counter medication.   Symptoms of tension headaches often worsen with poor sitting posture and are usually relieved by rest.

A great at home remedy for tension headaches is the Tennis-Ball-Sock-Peanut.  Simply place two tennis balls (or balls of similarsize) in a long sock and push them toward the toe.  Next, tie a knot in the sock securing the tennis balls together forming what looks like a peanut.  Now lay back on a somewhat solid surface like the floor and place the peanut under the base of your skull where it meets the neck.  Perform a small chin tuck and roll the peanut along the tight muscles of the upper neck to help reduce tension.  

If the Tennis-Ball-Sock-Peanut does not help reduce your headaches it is then a good idea to come to the clinic and see a therapist.  A therapist will help determine the cause and type of your headache and will help improve neck mobility, reduce tightness, increase strength and show you exercises to help correct poor posture, which can be contributing to your headaches.