Condition Guide - Headaches

Headaches Page Task List

Go through this guide and read through some of the websites linked to from it to learn about headaches
Write 800-1200 words split into 8-10 sections following the condition page structure below
Give the page an H1 title and URL 'Headache treatment in [location]'
Put the sections into the page using content section templates
Insert a common section from the templates in between every 2 content sections
Insert a "from our blog" section (if client has a blog) and "medical review" section. For the blog section pull in posts tagged headache
For each content section fInd an appropriate image from Shutterstock
Mark up each image with alt tag and title, and give it a caption
Link to internal pages on the website wherever appropriate
Try to add 10-15 outbound links to high authority sources. See the links section. Create a "further reading" or "resources" section if necessary
Optimise the title tag and meta description using Yoast, and give the page an appropriate featured image

Page Structure And Sections

Introductory Section on Headaches and How Great the Clinic Is

Introductory text about headaches:
You might say that headaches are very common and use some statistics from this link (be sure to link to it)
You might say that most headaches go away on their own but there are some situations where they can be serious, and use this link
You might say that there are various different causes of headaches and that some can be treated with physical therapy. Maybe the governing body for the client’s particular therapy has some headache information on their website that you can read and link to
You might say that many people find things like painkillers and rest to be good for headaches, but that if your headache persists it would be a good idea to get it looked at by a professional
Put a paragraph about the clinic in this first section. Mention the clinic USPs, treatments with links, clinics with links, booking link

Why do Headaches Occur

Check out this link https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/headache/basics/causes/sym-20050800
We generally want to focus on the types of headache that physical therapists treat but no problem to go into a bit more detail on the various other types and causes if you want
Probably worth mentioning that most headaches are quite innocuous and caused by lifestyle factors
Again you might want to say that nothing wrong with self-treatment for occasional headaches but if you find a headache happening regularly it’s worth getting a professional to look at it
Along those same lines you might mention that the client’s profession are Primary Care Practitioners / First Contact Practitioners (if they are) who can refer you to other treatment if they aren’t right for you – reassure the reader that they will be sent to the right place if they have symptoms of something more serious

Different Types of Headache

There is overlap here with the previous section on why headaches occur and the link above details all the different types of headache also
However, definitely mention that there are 3 types of headache that physical therapists can treat, which are also pretty much the most common kinds. They are:
- Tension Headaches
- Cervicogenic Headaches (headaches arising from problems in the neck)
- Migraines
Explain each of these in a little detail – see the next 3 sections.
Basically these types of headache are all (or can all be) linked to muscular tension and misalignment of the neck / spine, hence they can be treated with physical therapy. You might want to say they ‘have their roots in musculoskeletal issues’ or something like that.

Tension Headaches

As the name suggests, tension headaches are caused by tension, so things like:
- Stress
- Too much caffeine
- Not enough sleep
- Too long staring at a screen
- Not relaxing
- Etc.
Treatment focuses on reducing stress. In the case of physical therapy this will be by reducing physical stress in the body
Self-treatment options are also possible such as painkillers or just taking more time to relax. You might want to say that there’s nothing wrong with that but physical therapy is better because it gets to the root of the problem.
You might want to say that tension headaches are what most people think of when they say they have a headache (i.e. general day-to-day headache)
You might want to say that they can feel like a band around the head, or a pain in the temples or behind the eyes
You might want to say that most are not serious, but see a physical therapist if they happen frequently and get it looked at
If you see a doctor they might prescribe a drug called Amitriptyline for your headache. Amitriptyline is an antidepressant that’s also used for pain. Don’t know about you but I’d rather go to a physical therapist than be put on mood changing drugs so you might like to mention that this is a common treatment but the client’s therapy can avoid the need for drugs by fixing the problem at its root

Cervicogenic Headaches

Cervicogenic headaches are caused by problems with the structures of the neck, for example inflammation of the discs, joints and muscles, muscular tension or misalignment of the cervical spine. This pain is then referred upwards into the head.
Signs that your headache is cervicogenic are anything that relates it to your neck – for example if you have a headache making a certain neck movement, turning your head to one side or keeping your head in the same place for a long time. Cervicogenic headaches also often occur on one side of the head only.
Some professions are more likely to develop a cervicogenic headache because they involve keeping the head in a certain position for extended periods, leading to tension in the neck.
Physical therapy is the only way to get to the root cause of cervicogenic headaches. A physical therapist can examine the muscles and joints of your neck and identify any problem areas and treat them.
It may also be that the tension in the neck is resulting from other areas. For example you may have a bad posture when you sit at your desk which is causing problems in your back, which is then compensated for in your neck, which then causes your headache. A physical therapist is able to identify these issues and get to the root of any problems which are leading to your headaches.

Migraines

Migraines are characterised by various criteria including:
- Typically lasting 4-72 hours
- May be accompanied by nausea or dizziness
- May be accompanied by “aura” – this can be various visual sensations such as partial visual impairment, seeing flashing lights, etc.
- May cause aversion to light
- Typically on one side of the head only
- Typically feels like a throbbing pain
- Many people also experience certain symptoms 1-2 days before a migraine, including mood swings and constipation. This is known as prodrome
Migraines are very common and are experienced by 1 in 5 men and 1 in 15 women link
There are various triggers for migraine which are listed here
In the case of migraines, physical therapy is used more to help prevent and manage the condition rather than to treat it directly. As in the case of the other conditions this is often by helping to relax the muscles and joints of the neck.
Medication might be more useful in treating migraine than it is in treating the other types of headache, and as there are more varied causes of migraine further tests from a doctor might be appropriate. Your physical therapist will be able to advise whether you should also speak to your GP, and will be able to liaise with them on the best treatment methods for your particular case.

Treating headaches with [client's therapy]

The main selling points for physical therapy in treating headaches are:
- They can get to the root of the problem rather than masking it
- They do not use drugs
- They are able to accurately diagnose the causes and refer you to a more appropriate service if necessary
You might want to mention:
- There is a thorough examination
- Plenty of time to listen to your symptoms, examine you properly and explain a diagnosis
- No long wait time and can book an appointment within days
The client’s therapy will treat your headache by relaxing the muscles of the neck and shoulders, treating any problems with your cervical spine and bringing it back into better alignment. They might do this by:
- Direct joint manipulation
- Soft tissue techniques including deep tissue massage and myofascial release
- Dry needling / western acupuncture
Mention that [therapists] are trained to high standard and registered with whatever professional body they are registered with, that they undergo regular CPD

Avoiding headaches in future

Explain that the client will be able to determine the root cause of the headache and advise you on how to avoid it in the future
They will be able to give you bespoke stretches and exercises to help in your particular case, and advise you on the use of things like heat pads
If the headache stems from postural issues, they will also be able to advise on things like posture, best mattress, pillows, chair, etc.

Our Approach to Headache Treatment / Headache Treatment in [location] / Booking an Appointment

Recap section(s) bigging up the clinic and mentioning all the clinic USPs
Mention years of experience, professional registrations if not already mentioned
We’re here to help, etc.
Any call to actions like free telephone consultation
Contact us if you’re not sure whether we can help and we’ll be happy to advise.

Links & Background Reading

Videos

https://hutchinsonhealth.co.uk/headache-clinic-in-portchester/
Versha M

Holland Park Headache Page
Written by client – lots of information

Body Back-Up Headache Page
Chris

Condition Guide - Headaches

Contents

Headaches Page Task List

Page Structure And Sections

Introductory Section on Headaches and How Great the Clinic Is

Why do Headaches Occur

Different Types of Headache

Tension Headaches

Cervicogenic Headaches

Migraines

Treating headaches with [client's therapy]

Avoiding headaches in future

Our Approach to Headache Treatment / Headache Treatment in [location] / Booking an Appointment

Links & Background Reading

Tension Headaches

Migraines

Cervicogenic Headaches

Videos

Previous Pages