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Having a clear head is something that we often take for granted. But when you experience ongoing headaches, migraine or dizziness, you very quickly realise how much you appreciated that clarity.

Conditions affecting the head are some of the most misdiagnosed and poorly treated conditions worldwide but did you know that osteopathy can help with these conditions?

Book an osteo appointment to talk about your head pain

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Conditions affecting the head
Osteopathic management of conditions affecting the head

Headaches, migraine and dizziness disorders are some of the most common conditions that people experience worldwide and they negatively impact people’s lives in many ways.

Some osteopaths may also treating concussions and post-concussion syndrome.

Finding an osteopath with the knowledge, training and skills in these fields is vital to ensure that you are being thoroughly assessed, diagnosed and treated properly for your condition so that you receive the best outcomes.

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