What the evidence says
Dizziness
Manual therapy
Concussion
Headache
Research has shown that manual therapy for the head and/or the neck or jaw muscles may give some short-term relief to adults with headaches not caused by a serious health condition (Cerritelli 2017; Bronfort et al 2001; Chaibi & Russell 2012).
References
Bronfort G, et al ‘Efficacy of Spinal Manipulation for Chronic Headache: A systematic review’, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics; (2001) September, v.24 no.7
Chaibi, A & Russell MJ, ‘Manual therapies for cervicogenic headache: a systematic review’, Journal of Headache Pain; (2012) 13
Cerritelli, F., et al ‘Osteopathy for primary headache patients: a systematic review’, Journal of Pain Research; (2017) 10
Migraine
Studies have found that manual therapy and needling on the back, shoulders, head and neck may relieve pain for adults with migraine not caused by a serious health condition (Chaibi et al 2011). This finding supports an earlier Cochrane Review which concluded that manual therapy for the upper back and neck exercises may give short-term relief to adults with migraine not caused by a serious health condition (Bronfort et al 2004).
References
Chaibi, A., Tuchin, J., & Russell, MJ., ‘Manual therapies for migraine: a systematic review, Journal of Headache Pain; (2011) 12.
Bronfort G, et al ‘Non-invasive physical treatments for chronic/recurrent headache’, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; 2004 (3)
Page references
Headache and Migraine Australia
Better Health Channel
Health Direct
Adams, J et al. A workforce survey of Australian osteopathy: analysis of a nationally representative sample of osteopaths from the Osteopathy Research and Innovation Network (ORION)
Deloitte. Migraine in Australia Whitepaper. Deloitte Access Economics Report. 2018