Condition · Head & Neck
Headaches
How Myofascial Release addresses it, and what to expect.
Headaches are a common medical condition characterized by pain or discomfort in the head or upper neck. They can vary in intensity, duration, and frequency. Headaches may result from various causes, including tension, dehydration, lack of sleep, sinus congestion, or underlying medical conditions. The pain can be dull or throbbing and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as sensitivity to light or sound, nausea, or visual disturbances. Headaches can be primary, where they are the main condition, or secondary, arising from another underlying issue.
Why fascia is involved
Many headaches begin in the neck and shoulders.
The fascia of the scalp, jaw, neck and upper back is continuous. Tightness in the muscles at the base of the skull, along the sides of the neck or across the shoulders pulls on that shared tissue and can refer pain into the temples, the forehead or behind the eyes. Stress, screen posture, old injuries and clenching all add to the load, which is why so many headaches feel like they come from nowhere.
Myofascial Release addresses the tension that feeds the headache rather than the headache alone. Therapists gently release the suboccipital region, the neck, the jaw and the upper chest and shoulders, giving the tissue time to let go. Many people notice headaches becoming less frequent and less intense as the whole head-and-neck system relaxes.
MFR Resource
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Every therapist in the Directory is trained in the John F. Barnes Myofascial Release Approach®.