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Headaches

Headaches are one of the most common reasons that people see their primary care physician and they account for 20% of outpatient visits to neurologists.

People with chronic (or persistent) headaches report disabling symptoms that interfere with daily activities.

The International Headache Society has classified hundreds of different types of headaches into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Primary headaches include migraine, tension-type and cluster headaches. They are the most common type of headache and stem from a single cause.

Secondary headaches are classified according to their causes, including temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, vertigo, myofascial pain, and cervicogenic headaches, which are attributed to mechanical disorders of the neck. Both types of headaches can be treated with physical therapy.

What Causes Headaches?

Headaches are often a combination of factors, including musculoskeletal, psychological, neurovascular, nutritional, and chemical imbalances in the brain. Some headaches relate to or are indicative of a disease process; some are life-threatening and others benign. Thus, a thorough medical evaluation is necessary with any onset of a new or ongoing headache.

A thorough physical therapy examination attempts to determine the type of headache and to define the neuromusculoskeletal factors contributing to it. Muscle tension, joint dysfunction of the neck and jaw, poor posture and stress are factors that can be addressed and treated by a skilled physical therapist trained in manual therapy.

How Can Physical Therapy Provide Headache Treatment?

Treatment may include use of heat or ice, soft tissue mobilization, shoulder blade, mid back, rib, and neck mobilizations, neck stretches, dry needling, neck and mid back strengthening, and posture education. In addition, we’ll provide you with best practices to manage or decrease your pain the next time you feel a headache coming on.
Each patient is treated differently, as each headache is unique!

Physical therapy treatment for headaches can be extremely effective – some patients may notice immediate relief, though some may require a few weeks of physical therapy to address strength issues. Not only can PT reduce pain for those suffering from headaches and migraines, it can also prevent future occurrences.

If I’m Suffering From a Headache, Why Does My PT Want to Focus on My Muscles or Joints?

Fairly frequently, headaches can actually stem from musculoskeletal problems involving the neck, jaw, and shoulder, and there are two ways the muscles and joints in these areas can cause pain.

The first is called referred pain. Most people know that pains in the chest, left shoulder, and left arm frequently signal a heart attack. When the heart muscle is stressed, the pain experienced can be felt in the arm, likely because of the way the nerves from the arm and the heart travel together to the brain. That’s referred pain. Similarly, the neck’s muscles and joints can refer pain to the head.

For example, if you’re someone who works a desk job or is frequently bent over a computer, you’re likely to develop myofascial trigger points, or knots. These knots can refer pain up the neck and into the temple.

The second way musculoskeletal issues can cause headaches is when the muscles in the neck trigger a migraine. For some, muscle tightness and dysfunction in the neck can lead to pain and discomfort that triggers a migraine headache.

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Headache Treatment Locations

Ada – Physical Therapy Central

1188 North Hills Centre
Ada, OK 74820
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Ardmore – Physical Therapy Central

2015 W Broadway St
Unit 3A
Ardmore, OK 73401
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Bethany – Physical Therapy Central

8006 Northwest 39th Expressway
Bethany, OK 73008
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Blanchard – Physical Therapy Central

845 E. Veterans Memorial Hwy
Blanchard, OK 73010
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Chickasha – Physical Therapy Central

304 South 29th Street
Chickasha, OK 73018
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Choctaw – Physical Therapy Central

14890 SE 29th Street
Suite 101
Choctaw, OK 73020
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Davis – Physical Therapy Central

201 W. Main St.
Davis, OK 73030
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Deer Creek – Physical Therapy Central

7115 NW 150th
Suite 4
Oklahoma City, OK 73142
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Edmond East – Physical Therapy Central

3633 E 2nd St
Edmond, OK 73034
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Edmond North – Physical Therapy Central

1260 West Covell Road
Ste 100
Edmond, OK 73003
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Edmond West – Physical Therapy Central

15101 Lleytons Ct
Edmond, OK 73013
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Elk City – Physical Therapy Central

1007 N. Main
Suite 102
Elk City, OK 73644
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Guthrie – Physical Therapy Central

108 West Harrison Avenue
Guthrie, OK 73044
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Kingfisher – Physical Therapy Central

105 North Main Street
Kingfisher, OK 73750
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Lawton – Physical Therapy Central

910 SW 38th St
Lawton, OK 73505
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Lindsay – Physical Therapy Central

301 East Cherokee Street
Lindsay, OK 73052
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Midwest City – Physical Therapy Central

1124 South Douglas Blvd
Midwest City, OK 73130
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Moore West – Physical Therapy Central

11521 S Western Avenue
Suite A
Oklahoma City, OK 73179
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Mustang – Physical Therapy Central

433 E Hwy 152
Suite 101
Mustang, OK 73064
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Newcastle – Physical Therapy Central

3699 Northwest 32nd Street
Newcastle, OK 73065
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Nichols Hills – Physical Therapy Central

6600 N. Olie Avenue
Suite B
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
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Noble – Physical Therapy Central

307 North Main Street
Noble, OK 73068
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Norman – Physical Therapy Central

440 Merchant Drive
Norman, OK 73069
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Norman West – Physical Therapy Central

2821 36th Avenue Northwest
Suite 130
Norman, OK 73072
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Oklahoma City Midtown – Physical Therapy Central

815 NW 12th St
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
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Oklahoma City South – Physical Therapy Central

8200 S Walker Ave
Suite 103
Oklahoma City, OK 73139
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Oklahoma City Southeast – Physical Therapy Central

6001 South Sooner Road
Suite D
Oklahoma City, OK 73135
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Oklahoma City Southwest – Physical Therapy Central

10740 South May Avenue
Suite 111
Oklahoma City, OK 73170
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Pauls Valley – Physical Therapy Central

34637 Airline Road
Pauls Valley, OK 73075
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Shawnee – Physical Therapy Central

3930 North Kickapoo Street
Shawnee, OK 74804
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St. Anthony North – Physical Therapy Central

6201 North Santa Fe Avenue
Suite 1000
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
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Stillwater – Physical Therapy Central

1405 South Western Road
Stillwater, OK 74074
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Oklahoma City Village – Physical Therapy Central

10908-C N May Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
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Yukon – Physical Therapy Central

800 Garth Brooks Boulevard
Suite 115
Yukon, OK 73099
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • A physical therapy visit lasts about 40-60 minutes. The actual contents of the visit vary based on your diagnosis/need, but typically what happens is:

    1. You check in with the receptionist, make any appointments necessary, and we discuss your health insurance benefits with you.
    2. You go into the gym. You can change clothes if you need to, then begin therapy.
    3. You perform 6-8 various exercises and stretches. These can include therapeutic band exercises, light body weight exercises, or minimal weights. The stretches will promote strength, stability, improved range of motion, and pain relief.
    4. We can initiate other techniques to include manual work, taping, cupping, and dry needling as needed.
    5. The therapist makes recommendations based on your progress. These can include altering the frequency of visits, making additions/alterations to your home exercise plan, or things to do before your next visit.
  • We recommend budgeting 40-60 minutes for a typical therapy session. The only exception to this will be your first visit, which can take about 20 minutes longer due to the physical therapy evaluation your therapist will provide. We also recommend showing up about 10-15 minutes early to your first visit. This way, you can complete the paperwork before your visit time and streamline the process.

  • If we are asking you to do something that is hurting too much, let us know! Physical therapy should not be severely painful. It is not common to be so sore that patients are in pain or it affects their daily life. If this ever happens during or after an appointment, let us know and we will adapt your program.

  • During your initial evaluation, your therapist may ask you a number of questions to determine what the cause of your pain is. This can include questions about your sleep habits, activity level, and work environment. They will also ask for a medical history, and then typically ask direct questions about where and when you experience pain.

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