I Have a Headache!
Headaches happen. For some of us, they happen much too often. They can be caused by many factors – neurological pathologies, whiplash, muscle tension, muscle imbalances, and stress to name a few. You may not know the root cause of your headache, so what can you do to try to reduce the severity?
Shoulder rolls – take your shoulders up towards your ears, squeeze your shoulder blades together, press your shoulders towards the floor, and pull them together in front of you…and repeat in a slow and controlled manner. This helps increase blood flow to those tight supporting structures of the neck. Try doing this one for a couple minutes.
Anterior shoulder stretch – with your shoulders and elbows bent to 90 degrees, stand facing a corner with your forearms on the wall and gently lean forward until you feel a stretch across the front of your chest. This will help with mobility and to improve your posture. Hold the stretch for 30 seconds and repeat 3x.
Chin tucks– Sometimes headaches come from poor posture, including letting your chin jutt out in front of you. Sit up straight and tall, and pull your chin back, as if to give yourself a double chin. Do this for 3 sets of 5, taking a rest break between sets.
Anchored cervical stretching – Sit on your hands to anchor your shoulder to ensure a good stretch of the cervical musculature. Gently side bend with your neck away from the anchored side. Hold 30 seconds and repeat 3 x on both sides.
As always, if any exercise or stretch causes your pain to increase, stop, and consult with your Physical Therapist before continuing.
Live your life, Better!
