So
how could Chiropractic help with migraine headaches? Research shows that when
your spine isn’t moving properly, it changes the way your brain perceives
what’s going on in and around your body; the way it integrates sensory
information; and therefore changes the way your brain controls your body.
When
we have these segments that are not moving properly, it can manifest as all
sorts of symptoms such as migraine headaches, low back pain, colic, and many
other things.
Chiropractic
adjustments clear up communication so that your brain doesn’t have to guess
what's going on anymore so your nervous system can then function better.
This
is why we see so many great symptomatic improvements with Chiropractic care,
but also why we can’t help everyone. These spinal irritations are not
the only thing causing the pain, headaches or other symptoms. And when it’s
not, we obviously can’t help those symptoms.
But
the good news for migraine sufferers is that very commonly there is a spinal
issue causing the migraine headache and that's when we can often help!
So
what does the actual research and evidence show with regards to Chiropractic
and migraine headaches?
“Evidence
suggests that chiropractic care improves migraine and cervicogenic headaches. The type, frequency,
dosage, and duration of treatments should be based on guideline
recommendations, clinical experience, and findings."
Let's
look more specifically at what research has been done.
The
cochrane collaboration (still the gold standard when it comes to scientific
reviews) looked at all of the many Randomized Control Trials that compared
chiropractic care to other types of care (such as drugs, massage, PT etc) or
even sham care.
They
found that for migraines and cervicogenic headaches, chiropractic care is at
least as effective as, if not more effective than drugs, massage, and other
headache treatment options.
Let's
take a look at an actual individual study on Chiropractic and migraines that
was actually performed at the Chiropractic school Dr. White went to in 2000.
They had 127 migraine sufferers and split them into two random groups. One
group received 2 months of chiropractic adjustments and the control group
received no care.
They
found that the chiropractic group had significant improvement with regards to
frequency of migraine headaches, duration of the headaches, disability ratings,
and medication use!
22%
of the chiropractic care group had more than a 90% reduction (about 1 in 5
people had their migraines completely disappear). 49% of people reported
significant improvements. So approximately 3 out of 4 participants in this
study appeared to respond exceptionally well to chiropractic care!
Some
people in the science world who are very skeptical when it comes to
Chiropractic argue that these results are purely due to placebo (meaning the
participants just imagined that they felt better). Even if this were the case,
and if it beats the results of medication and you feel like your migraine is
gone, isn’t that a good thing anyway?
So
for many people suffering from migraines, research has shown that they may get
some really good improvements if they get under chiropractic care. We don’t
know for sure who will respond well, and how much influence the placebo effect
has, but for some people when they get under chiropractic care their migraines
may almost completely resolve within just a couple of months.
When
you combine these results and Chiropractic's enviable safety record, what have
you go to lose?
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