Massage Therapy for Migraine Headaches

Do you get Migraine Headaches?

Migraine is a condition in which the blood vessels and nerves around the brain get inflamed. Symptoms during a migraine headache episode can include throbbing or pulsating pain on one or both sides of the head, nausea, vomiting, light and/or noise sensitivity, and weakness or fatigue.

Whatever the cause, the fact remains that migraine is an unbearable headache, which can either be hereditary or be caused by various factors.

Migraine Triggers:

• Emotional stress
• Intense physical exertion
• Abrupt weather changes
• Bright or flickering lights
• High altitude
• Travel motion
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Low blood sugar
• Chemicals found in certain foods like serotonin
• Smoking

A number of theories which try to explain why this inflammation exist. Some of them postulate that a series of reactions takes place in the central nervous system due to a change in the body or environment or heredity. Other theories state that it is the blood vessels, which expand and contract causing the unbearable pain associated with migraine. The narrowing of the blood vessels causes dizziness and even problems with vision. However, when the blood vessels expand, they put pressure on the nearby nerves thus causing immense pain.

Another theory suggests that there is an interruption in the messages sent from one cell to another to narrow or expand the blood vessels. This is actually what causes the pain. Some studies have also tried to find a link between epilepsy and migraine.

Massage Therapy Can Help!

At Advanced Alternatives, we understand that your migraine headaches can be limiting and even mentally challenging. We’re here to help! Our massage therapists are skilled in injury rehab and pain relief. We have worked with numerous clients who have suffered for years and found relief through our customized massage techniques.

Why Choose Advanced Alternatives?

The following guidelines are for information purposes only. Seeking professional advice before beginning rehabilitation is recommended.

Massage Therapy
There are several different techniques of massage that have been shown to help migraine sufferers combat their illness. Different styles work – or don’t work -- for different people, and most sufferers combine massage therapy with traditional therapies to reap the best results. The therapists at Advanced Alternatives Massage Therapy are skilled in all of these areas:

Deep-tissue / Myofascial Release Massage, relaxes the muscles in the body through pressure and stretching. The massage therapist focuses on areas of the body that carry tension and feel tight or uncomfortable, and uses deepening pressure to release the tension and give an overall feeling of relaxation and loosening of stiff muscles. If your migraines result from tension carried in a certain part of the body (usually the neck and shoulders), Myofascial Release will relax those areas and provide a palliative measure.

Neuromuscular Massage, In this technique, the therapist applies moderate to deep pressure to the body’s “trigger points” – specific areas within a muscle that often feel painful to the touch when pressed. The idea behind trigger-point therapy is that it will release nerve compression (compressed nerves being the reason that the trigger points ache when touched), and that the relaxed nerves in turn will help the body to release tension.

Craniosacral Therapy, wherein the pressure applied by the therapist is focused on the skull and scalp. By soothing the nerve endings through massage, the therapist encourages them to relax and to stop sending such powerful waves of pain.

Reflexology concentrates on pressure points on the soles of the foot. According to the practice, the foot is divided into that relate to different areas of the body; by stimulating those points on the feet, the therapist aims to relax muscles that carry a lot of stress or tension.