Tension Headaches - Treatment and condition

Question 1

What are the 2 categories of headaches?

Answer 1

Primary Headache: Where the headache is the condition such as a Tension Headache or Migraine.
Secondary Headache: Where the Headache is a result of an underlying condition or pathology.

Question 2

What are Tension Headaches usually associated with?

Answer 2

With muscular origins and often associated with with Myofascial Trigger points.

Question 3

What are Predisposing factors that can lead to headaches?

Answer 3

Trigger points, Trauma to the head, neck or spine, sleep disturbance, postural imbalances TMJ dysfunction.

Question 4

What are Signs and Symptoms for a Tension headaches?

Answer 4

Bilateral, diffuse, constant pain in the area of a trigger point referral.

Question 5

What are Associated symptoms for tension headaches?

Answer 5

Mm tenderness and stiffness, HT in affected Mms, loss of appetite, If SCM is affected the client may experience vertigo, nausea and ringing in the ears.

Question 6

What does Treatment for a client with Tension headaches look like / include?

Answer 6

Client supine or side-lying.
Prone may increase pressure to the head.
Encourage belly breathing.
Hot hydro to affected Mms, cool hydro to referral pattern.
Slow relaxing GSM to all affected Mms of the upper back and neck.
trigger points addressed followed by heat and stretch.
Passive ROM of the C-Spine.

Question 7

What are migraines?

Answer 7

There is no clear definition.

Question 8

What are predisposing factors for migraines?

Answer 8

Unknown but may be genetic.

Question 9

What are signs and symptoms for Migraines?

Answer 9

Unilateral in 60% of sufferers.
Pain is pulsating with moderate to severe intensity.
May begin dull or with abrupt severe pain.

Question 10

What do some migraines present with along with pain?

Answer 10

They may be accompanied with (Auras) prior to the onset of the headaches.

Question 11

What are associated symptoms of a migraines?

Answer 11

Mm soreness, hypersensitivity to light and sound, GI problems, cutaneous vasoconstriction leading to cold extremities.

Question 12

What does Treatment of Migraines involve?

Answer 12

Client supine or side lying.
Deep breathing.
Cold hydro to head and neck.
GSM to address HT and increase relaxation.
Treatment of hands, feet and head if client can tolerate direct work.

Question 13

What are CI’s for headaches?

Answer 13

Deep or vigorous work when treating MTP’s to avoid kick back pain.

Question 14

What is Sinusitis?

Answer 14

An Acute or Chronic inflammation of the paranasal Sinuses.

Question 15

What are the Causes for Sinusitis?

Answer 15

Viral infection, bacterial infection, increased pressure.

Question 16

What are predisposing factors for Sinusitis?

Answer 16

Deviated Septum, Sensitivities to dairy and wheat, upper molar abscess.

Question 17

What are Signs and Symptoms for Sinusitis?

Answer 17

Pain and tenderness over the affected sinus.
Pain above the eyes if infection is frontal.
Pain across the cheeks if infection is maxillary.

Feeling fullness or pressure, difficulty breathing, possible low grade fever, nasal discharge.

Question 18

What does treatment of Sinusitis involve?

Answer 18

Pre-treatment, Steam bath to encourage drainage.  
Client prone (for drainage of Sinus) supine / Side-laying. 

GSM to shoulders and upper thoracic area, Address TP’s that refer to temporal region.

MLD and GSM to pecs, posterior neck and mm of mastication.
Scalp, and mms of facial expression.
Light tapping on sinuses.