September 24, 2024
Migraine attacks affect a significant portion of the population in Australia, with a notable impact on daily life, work, and overall well-being. Here are some important facts about migraine prevalence in Australia:
- 4.9 million Australians, or 20.55% of the population, live with migraine.
- 71% of migraine sufferers are women.
- 86% of people with migraine are of working age, highlighting the impact migraine disease has on productivity and professional life.
- Of those affected, around 7.6% (400,000 people) experience chronic migraine, which means they endure 15 or more migraine days per month.
Migraine attacks are not only debilitating, but they also disproportionately affect women and those in their most productive working years, making effective treatment strategies essential for maintaining quality of life.
While there’s no cure for migraine, many people turn to chiropractic care as an alternative or complementary approach. But can a chiropractor actually help with migraine?
How Does Chiropractic Help with Migraine?
Chiropractic care focuses on the relationship between the spine and the nervous system. The idea is that spinal misalignments, or “subluxations,” can cause stress on the body’s nervous system, leading to or exacerbating migraine attacks.
Chiropractors treat these misalignments through spinal manipulation (adjustments) and other soft tissue therapies to improve spinal function and reduce stress on the body. These treatments can alleviate muscle tension and improve circulation, potentially helping to reduce migraine frequency or severity.
Why People Turn to Chiropractic for Migraine
One of the key reasons individuals opt for chiropractic care is the desire to avoid the side effects of medications. Prescription drugs commonly used to treat migraine, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, or preventive medications, can have side effects that people prefer to avoid. Additionally, these medications don’t always address the underlying issues related to migraine, such as neck pain and muscle tension, which chiropractors are trained to treat.
More than 75% of migraine sufferers also experience neck pain, tension, and jaw issues, all of which can contribute to the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks. Chiropractors aim to treat these musculoskeletal issues, potentially reducing both the intensity of migraine and the number of affected days.
Is Chiropractic Effective for Migraine?
While the evidence for chiropractic care’s effectiveness in treating migraine is still emerging, the results so far are promising.
A 2011 review examined several studies and found that chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, and physical therapy could be as effective as conventional medications like propranolol (a beta-blocker) or topiramate (an anti-seizure drug) in reducing migraine. However, the review called for more rigorous studies, as some research had limitations in methodology.
Despite the need for further research, chiropractors frequently see patients for migraine treatment. A 2017 survey of chiropractors revealed that 53% of them treated a high percentage of patients with migraine. This shows that many people are already turning to chiropractic care as a part of their migraine management plan.
Chiropractic for Migraine During Pregnancy
Pregnancy can make migraine attacks even more challenging to manage due to the limited medication options available. Many preventive migraine medications pose risks to the developing fetus, leading pregnant individuals to seek out complementary therapies, including chiropractic care.
Although research on chiropractic for migraine attacks during pregnancy is limited, a 2009 case study showed encouraging results. A pregnant woman who had been experiencing chronic migraine for 12 years found relief through chiropractic spinal adjustments. After a series of treatments, her migraine disease improved significantly, allowing her to reduce her medication intake.
While this is just one case study, it suggests that chiropractic care could be a safe and effective option for managing migraine during pregnancy.
How Chiropractic Care Works: A Holistic Approach
Chiropractors don’t just treat the symptoms of migraine—they focus on addressing the root causes. Here’s how:
Spinal Adjustments: Realigning the spine helps relieve tension in the muscles and joints, reducing stress on the nervous system.
Soft Tissue Therapies: Techniques like massage and trigger point therapy can reduce muscle tightness and improve blood flow, both of which may alleviate migraine symptoms.
Lifestyle Advice: Chiropractors often provide lifestyle recommendations to help prevent migraine, such as:
Dietary adjustments (e.g., eliminating trigger foods and taking B complex vitamins)
Low-impact exercises like walking and stretching
Posture corrections, especially for those sitting at desks or working from home
Stress-reducing techniques, such as deep breathing or avoiding teeth clenching
By taking a multifaceted approach, chiropractic care aims to optimise neuromusculoskeletal health, which may in turn reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks.
What to Expect from Chiropractic Migraine Treatment
If you’re considering chiropractic care for migraine, here’s what the process typically looks like:
Initial Assessment: Your chiropractor will perform a thorough examination, assessing your spine, posture, and overall neuromuscular health. This helps identify any imbalances or misalignments contributing to your migraine disease.
Personalised Treatment Plan: Based on your assessment, the chiropractor will develop a treatment plan that may include spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and lifestyle advice.
Ongoing Care: Chiropractic care is often an ongoing process. You may need multiple sessions to see significant improvements, but many individuals report positive changes after just a few treatments. Your chiropractor will always communicate with you if there are other practitioners that may be complementary to your care.
A Non-Pharmaceutical Option for Migraine Relief
While chiropractic care isn’t a cure for migraine, it offers a non-pharmaceutical option that may provide relief, especially for those experiencing related symptoms like neck pain and muscle tension. Although research is still developing, many people have found chiropractic care to be a valuable part of their migraine management plan.
If you’re struggling with migraine disease and looking for alternative solutions to manage pain, consider consulting with a chiropractor. They can assess your unique situation and develop a tailored treatment plan to help alleviate your symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.
References:
Bernstein C, Wayne PM, Rist PM, Osypiuk K, Hernandez A, Kowalski M. Integrating Chiropractic Care Into the Treatment of Migraine Headaches in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Case Series. Glob Adv Health Med. 2019 Mar 28;8:2164956119835778. doi: 10.1177/2164956119835778. PMID: 30944771; PMCID: PMC6440032.
Chaibi A, Tuchin PJ, Russell MB. Manual therapies for migraine: a systematic review. J Headache Pain. 2011 Apr;12(2):127-33. doi: 10.1007/s10194-011-0296-6. Epub 2011 Feb 5. PMID: 21298314; PMCID: PMC3072494.
Moore, C., Adams, J., Leaver, A. et al. The treatment of migraine patients within chiropractic: analysis of a nationally representative survey of 1869 chiropractors. BMC Complement Altern Med 17, 519 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-2026-3
https://www.migraine.org.au/burden
Alcantara J, Cossette M. Intractable migraine headaches during pregnancy under chiropractic care. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2009 Nov;15(4):192-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2009.03.005. Epub 2009 May 2. PMID: 19880080.
https://headacheaustralia.org.au/migraine/
Post on September 24, 2024
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