Massage therapy is a time-honored means of relieving tension, promoting relaxation, and improving overall quality of life. Dr. Ravinder Singh and the team at Premier Neurology Group in Beverly Hills, California, recognize the benefits of massage therapy, especially in treating migraines and other types of headaches. If you’d like to explore massage therapy as part of your treatment process, book an appointment today. Online scheduling is available, or you can always reach the office by phone to schedule your visit.
What is massage therapy?
Massage therapy is the manual manipulation of muscles and other soft tissues with a focus on reducing pain, relieving tension, and restoring function. The massage therapists at Premier Neurology Group customize each massage session to your specific needs.
There are several different types of massage, including:
- Deep tissue massage, which promotes healing of damaged muscles
- Trigger point therapy, which focuses on tight muscles to reduce tension
- Myofascial release, which works to stretch and loosen muscle fibers
In some cases, aspects of several types of massage can be used in one session to achieve the desired results. It’s important to note that massage therapy for headaches can extend beyond the head to focus on your neck and shoulders, where tension could be making your head pain worse.
How can massage therapy improve headaches?
Research indicates that massage therapy can deliver the following results:
- Decrease in perceived pain
- Improve depression or anxiety
- Reduce reliance on medication
- Improve cervical mobility
- Lessen tension
- Reduce intensity of head pain
- Shorten length of headaches
Some men and women find that over time, massage therapy prompts these responses as soon as a massage begins. Many are even able to extend those results through self-massage techniques at home.
Why seek massage therapy from a medical practice?
Massage therapy shares some similarities to the type of massage you might receive at a spa or wellness retreat. Those techniques are primarily focused on promoting relaxation across all areas of your body. Therapeutic massage for headaches is different in that it focuses on addressing a specific medical concern.
During the massage, the therapist works to identify the areas that are causing your pain. Massage therapy for headaches might focus on your face and scalp, relieving tension and improving circulation. Your session might also include work on your neck and shoulders, where trigger points could be causing head pain.
A massage therapy session usually lasts about an hour. You may feel some discomfort as the therapist works on tight muscles or trigger points. If the pressure is uncomfortable, simply ask the therapist for a lighter touch.
After your massage, you should feel calm and relaxed. Regular sessions may be necessary to provide lasting relief.
Schedule an appointment today to learn more about the role massage therapy can play in treating migraines and other headaches.
