Basic Spinal Anatomy

If you suffer from back pain, neck pain or headaches please watch this video and check out our website www.elitespinalphysio.com.au

5 Tips to Relieve Headaches

Headaches are very prevalent in Australia with 50% of the population experiencing headaches regularly. They can be very debilitating 

1. Increase your water intake

Dehydration is one of the main causes of headaches. Drink at least 2 litres of water over 2-3 hours when you have a headache. It is important to drink clean water that is high in minerals. This allows your cells to more easily absorb the water and therefore increase your cellular hydration.

2. Increase your thoracic mobility
When your thoracic(upper back) is stiff your head sits further forward. This makes the muscles that run up to the base of the skull work harder than they should, therefore causing them to become tight and sore. Doing thoracic mobility exercises are very helpful. These type of exercises help keep the thoracic spine subtle.

3. Meditate for 5 minutes
This will help your muscles to relax and increase the oxygen levels in the blood if you take some nice deep breathes while you are meditating

4. Take a 20 min break from electronic devices
Over use of electronic devices such as computers, iPhones, etc for extended periods of time can aggravate your neck and strain your eyes. If you already have a headache take a 20 min break where possible. If you are starting to feel your eyes strain look away and focus on something in the distance for 20 sec every 20 minutes. This will stop your eyes fatiguing. 

5. Get your neck assessed by a physiotherapist
Dysfunction in the first three cervical vertebrae can cause headaches, dizziness and nausea. These are called cervicogenic headaches. Having these vertebrae gently realigned and your thoracic spine mobilised by your physio will help immensely.





For more information check out our website www.elitespinalphysio.com.au

Physiotherapy for Headaches and Migraines

Headaches and migraines can be very debilitating and affect approximately 50% of the population. 

There can be a range of causes responsible for headaches. Some of the latest research has shown that dysfunction in the top three vertebrae of the spine is a major contributor to headaches and migraines. This is the case is because it has been shown that the brainstem has become sensitised. This means that normal stimuli that is transmitted through the brain stem is interpreted in a different way to normal by the brain.

The areas that transmit stimuli through the brain stem are:

• Neck
• Eyes
• Ears
• Nose and Sinuses
• Forehead
• Sinuses
• Scalp

This is why if one of your triggers is associated with one of the areas mentioned above, dysfunction in the neck may be a causative factor.

Treatment of the cervical spine consisting of gentle mobilisation helps to reduce the dysfunction of the cervical spine, therefore decreasing the sensitisation of the brainstem. This leads to a decrease in heartaches and migraines.

www.elitespinalphysio.com.au