Strength Training For Tension Headaches

If you have recurrent tension headaches, the problem may be weakness in your neck and shoulder muscles and the solution might be training tostrengthen those muscles. Tension headaches typically feel like a tight band is wrapped around the head, unlike migraines, which are usually one-sided and frequently more painful. Researchers in Denmark recruited 60 adults who experienced tension headaches on eight or more days out of 30 and compared them to 30 healthy people. They found that neck and shoulder muscles were up to 26 percent weaker in people with regular tension headaches, when measured against those who didn’t have headaches. They also saw strength imbalances between sets of muscles that hold the head straight, and noted that participants in the healthy group had more shoulder strength than the headache patients. Although previous studies have linked muscle weakness with tension headaches, the researchers wrote that it’s not yet clear whether the muscle problems are the cause or the effect of the headaches. They commented that these headaches might stem from habits of posture, including using computers and tablets, which leads to sitting with a protruded head.
Source: Dr. Weil's Daily Health Tips - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Source Type: blogs