Don't put up with headaches, see if physiotherapy can help
HEADACHES have been labelled "the most common complaint of civilised man" affecting up to two-thirds of the population.
Headaches are often categorised into several groups: vascular headaches, cervical headaches, intracranial headaches, exercise-related headaches or associated with viral illness and infections.
One of the most common type of headaches is the cervical or tension headache.
Symptoms often include a dull ache, in combination with neck pain and stiffness that typically has a slow onset and can last for several days.
This type of headache is frequently attributed to abnormal posture and an increase in stress.
Working habits in modern society aren't the greatest for reducing your risk of cervical headaches, with more and more jobs based around sitting at a computer or operating machinery.
These working postures generally require forward reaching of the hands to either operate a keyboard/mouse or steering wheel. In combination with the forward reaching, there is also a requirement to focus and concentrate in the forward direction, which can lead to a forward shifting of the neck, in relation to the shoulders.
As a result of these postures, the muscles in the back of the neck and base of the skull become shortened and tight in addition to forward rounding of the shoulders.
Adopting better working postures is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of developing cervical headaches.
Physiotherapy, in combination with a specific strength and conditioning program by an exercise physiologist can help reduce pain and tightness, while increasing muscular strength and flexibility in the upper back, neck, chest and shoulders.
Stop putting up with headaches and come in to Active Physio Health and try our new six week Perfect Posture Program, which includes a computer based posture assessment that is used to design an exercise program, specifically for you to improve your posture.
Phone Active Physio Health 49725155, or visit: activephysiohealth.com.au.
Active Physio Health has been providing physiotherapy and exercise prescription services to Gladstone for five years.
