If you experience headaches that begin at the base of your skull, it's likely you're dealing with tension headaches. These headaches are caused by tight muscles in your upper back and neck, often due to postural issues—something increasingly common for those who spend long hours working on computers.
The Science Behind It
Think of holding a 10-pound bowling ball in front of you with your arm extended. It's easy to do for a while because the bones in your arm support the weight. However, if you slightly bend your arm, your biceps start to strain. The same principle applies to the muscles in your neck and upper back.
When you have good posture, your spine supports the weight of your head (around 10 pounds). But poor posture causes your head to droop forward, forcing the muscles in your neck and upper back to work harder, leading to tightness and headaches.
How to Alleviate Tension Headaches
- Use a Cervical Pillow
A cervical pillow helps maintain proper neck alignment while you sleep. Many find this simple change reduces headache frequency and alleviates neck and upper back pain. We offer these pillows in our office. - Postural Exercises
Stretching the chest muscles and strengthening the upper back and neck helps realign the shoulders and head. This allows your spine to better support your head, reducing strain on the muscles. - Chiropractic Treatment
Chiropractic care can help improve the movement of the joints in your neck and upper back, reducing inflammation, relaxing muscles, and alleviating headaches. If we’re unable to help, we’ll refer you to someone who can.
If you found this post helpful, please like and share it with others!