Massage definitely does help tension headaches. No question about it. There have been studies done which indicate that trigger point therapy and other forms of massage are beneficial for tension-type headaches.
I am a really big proponent of therapeutic massage. I'm really biased about the value of massage. I have seen, and experienced, tremendous relief at the hands of highly skilled massage therapists.
But I have a question. Or two.
Why treat something after it occurs? Why not prevent it from occurring in the first place?
Tension-type headaches, along with other types of head pain, are caused by making our muscles tense. How do we do this? Poor posture, working or walking with our head forward, instead of over our shoulders. Sitting in rolled-forward positions. Being out of balance.
How can we prevent tension headaches?
Sounds simple, but it takes a little effort. We have to get back in balance.
Do you remember (your body remembers) the great posture you had when you were a toddler, when your head was over your shoulders and everything was in alignment? Your ears were over your shoulders and your shoulders were directly in line over your ankles. That is the same posture we should all be in again.
Rather than use therapeutic massage only to treat the symptoms of being temporarily or generally out of balance (your headache is a symptom), take advantage of massage to help you get back into balance. Talk with your massage therapist about this. Not all massage therapists have the education or skill to help you get back into neutral.
Of course, he or she will want to help you get rid of your tension headache, and that's fine. But he or she will be doing much more for you if they can help you by straightening you up and helping you get into a strong, neutral position.
Avoiding headaches is possible a great deal of the time. All we have to know is why we get them and how to prevent getting them.
We get headaches because we are out of balance. We can avoid headaches by getting back into balance, into neutral posture, when we sit, stand or walk and yes, even when we sleep.
Pay attention to what you are doing when you start to hurt. That will give you clues as to what position you are in, which may be out of neutral. Sometimes a headache doesn't come on for a while after an activity, so look for a pattern. "After I do (blank) I get a headache." Ask yourself, "Why?" "What can I do to change my position, so I don't strain my neck and back muscles?" "What can I do so I don't clench my jaw muscles?"
Sometimes the (blank) can be as simple as watching tv. Why? Because most of our "comfortable" couches and chairs put our necks into forward positions, and that position strains our neck muscles. Our car seats are not so good most of the time, either.
If you pay attention and think about it, you may be able to pinpoint the activity or position which aggravates your muscles. Even though there are advertisements for pain relieving medicine which addresses "the common everyday headache", we are not supposed to have them. We are not designed to have them.
Let's work on getting you back into the position you were born to be in.
Let's work on getting you back to the neutral toddler you were.
Your body remembers; you can do it. A little time, a little work, but you can do it!
