Now that you have a bit more understanding of what is likely causing your headaches and migraines (See “Anatomy of a Headache, Part 1”), let’s take a look at what it will take to fully resolve what is causing your symptoms.
It isn’t a complicated process to get the body moving and working well, but the way in which you do things does matter, especially when it comes to resolving headaches and migraines.
Addressing restrictions and misalignments in the body that are causing difficulty is a 3 part process that will zig zag back and forth as your body responds and changes.
Work with a myofascial health expert at Women’s Myofascial Of Salt Lake will likely include:
Re-setting the Autonomic Nervous System
- This is commonly known as getting out of fight or flight
- We often need to disarm the (subconscious) protective bracing system keeping you stuck
- Doing so sets up the body to allow treatment and change
- This can include mindfulness, breathwork, awareness, dialoguing, gentle manual therapy
- Re-setting the autonomic nervous system may be the longest or most visited phase of your treatment plan
Part of this process can include learning to bring awareness and feeling back into the body. This can sound counterintuitive, as most of us tend to brace and clench against pain. The desire to numb it can be strong.
Read more about the importance of this process in our most recent blog
Restoring the Fluidity and Plasticity of the Connective Tissue System
- Soft tissue (especially at rest) should be just that, soft. Areas that are troubled and causing problems are often described as restricted, knotted, tight, stuck, glued, adhered, thick, or hard
- Gentle, sustained pressure into areas of restriction allows the connective tissue system to return to a fluid and pliable state
- At a minimum, resolution requires addressing tissues surrounding and pulling into areas of immediate pain and difficulty (for headaches and migraines this would include the head, including cranial and facial structures, neck, and shoulders)
- We may also need to address restricted tissue pulling from other areas including and affecting the entirety of the spinal column, ribcage, diaphragm, abdomen, pelvic alignment, hips, legs, knees, feet, and ankles
Retraining Movement and Strength in a More Proper Alignment
- This is important as the body relearns how to move in improved alignment
- Exercise and strength training become more effective when you are not working against restrictions and misalignments
- Includes corrective exercises and posture adaptation
- Requires an effective at home treatment practice
- May have back and forth as layers of restrictions and habits are worked through
- It is not uncommon to work through phases of feeling like your body is in chaos or experiencing periods of weakness
As previously mentioned, headaches rarely go away on their own. And most methods of treatment are about numbing out to pain. Or “putting a band-aid” on symptoms.
To truly address the root cause of headaches and migraines, help from a myofascial specialist is required. The work you do with them will help create an environment in your body in which tissues can begin to heal. And your body will begin to self correct and adjust.
As these things happen, you will naturally begin to feel better.
Ready for help?
