Let’s just say it, migraines are awful! ( I know) They’re painful, debilitating, and all-too-common problems for many people. It is estimated that 13% of the U.S. population suffers from migraines. While many people seek over-the-counter or prescription medication to ease their pain and prevent migraines, you may want to consider adding massage into your regular routine as well. Research has shown that massage can improve headache pain and decrease the frequency of migraines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is a migraine, and how can massage help?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Migraine Research Foundation(1), Migraines are typically severe throbbing recurring pain, usually on one side of the head accompanied by light and sound sensitivity, nausea, and visual disturbances. For many years, migraines were believed to be vascular in nature. It was thought that the blood vessels in the head and neck would spasm or dilate excessively causing significant decreases and\/or increases in blood flow, resulting in migraine symptoms. However, in recent years, studies have shown that migraines are a neurological disease with extremely incapacitating neurological symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that we understand there is a major neurological component to migraines, it’s easier to understand how massage can benefit those who suffer from this debilitating neurological disease. Massage stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, the part that calms us. This portion of the nervous system is responsible for our breathing, slowing our heart rate, returning our blood pressure to normal, and overall keeping the body relatively stress-free. By keeping us and our nervous system calm, migraines can often be avoided. In a 2006 study (2), weekly massage sessions were shown to decrease migraine frequency and improve sleep quality, A gentle, yet focused massage to the back, neck, shoulders, scalp, and face seem to be most effective in helping those who suffer from migraines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While massage during a migraine attack may seem out of the question, as most people experience intense touch sensitivity and aversion, when massage is performed only on the feet or hands, symptoms can decrease. This is thought to be the calming effect on the entire nervous system, thereby decreasing the abnormal neurological signals that are being perceived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So before your next migraine hits, schedule regular massage appointments and let us<\/p>\n\n\n\n
References:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(1) Raising Money for Migraine Research- Migraine is much more than a bad headache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n