Sports physiotherapy gives migraines a serious headache

According to the National Health Service, about 10-million of the 70-million people living in the UK today suffer from migraines.

These severe headaches manifesting as throbbing head pain are estimated to account for a combined 43 million days off work each year. In monetary terms the cost to the UK economy is somewhere between £6 billion and £10 billion annually.

The Migraine Trusts points out that migraines are the third-most common health condition in the world, after dental caries and tension-type headaches. To put that into context, they are more common than diabetes, asthma and epilepsy combined.

Given their prevalence in the world, it is not surprising that some of the world’s most famous sports personalities have battled the condition.

Tennis great Serena Williams has spoken openly about her struggles with the “invisible illness” and having to play through a pain that nobody else can see, whether they are on the opposite side of the net or cheering her on in the stands.

Migraines are often linked to neck pain, shoulder tension and poor posture.

Tight muscles like the trapezius, levator scapula and suboccipitals (deep muscles located at the base of the skull) can compress nerves and restrict blood flow, triggering headaches or migraines. In addition, cervical and thoracic spine stiffness can create referred pain into the head.

Desk work, poor posture and stress also overload these areas, making migraines more frequent.

Thankfully, sports therapy has proved an extremely effective treatment.

“Sports physiotherapy uses manual therapy, dry needling and targeted exercise rehabilitation to release tension, not just easing symptoms but addressing the root cause,” explains Ultra Sports Clinic Senior Physiotherapist Ryan Tan.

Each treatment produces specific results. For example:

• Manual therapy improves joint mobility and calms irritated tissues.

• Dry needling targets stubborn muscle tension that often drives headache symptoms.

• Exercise rehabilitation builds neck and postural strength for long-term migraine prevention.

Ryan says there are specific techniques that are effective in reducing migraine frequency and severity.

These include cervical and thoracic spine mobilisation, trigger point release and dry needling for neck and shoulder muscles, relaxation and breathing strategies to regulate the nervous system, and deep neck flexor strengthening and scapular stability exercises for posture support.

Ryan and the team at Ultra Sports Clinic also offers ergonomic advice for improving posture.

“Computer screen height, chair support and frequent breaks also minimises common migraine triggers. These small adjustments can prevent recurring tension headaches and migraines.”

There are various exercises individuals can do to further help reduce or prevent migraine triggers.

Chin tucks and deep neck flexor activation, thoracic extension over a foam roller, shoulder blade strengthening (rowing machine or band pulls) and stretching the upper trapezius and levator scapula are all highly recommended.

#UltraSportsClinic #dryneedling #sportsphysio #london #sporttherapy #physio