According to NHS England, 10 million people aged 15-69 in the UK suffer from migraines, and headaches are amongst the most common neurological reasons for attending A&E.
The cost to the NHS is significant: it is estimated that £150 million is spent annually on migraines and £250 million on care for headache.
But what if there was another way to help manage this pain – without relying solely on medication?
Why look beyond medication?
Many people find that medications offer limited relief or come with unwanted side effects. That’s why more people are turning to non-pharmacological, manual therapies – such as chiropractic care.
Emerging research supports chiropractic care as a promising option for managing certain types of headaches and migraines.
What the research says:
Study 1: A 12 month study found that participants who received chiropractic care experienced a:
- 25% reduction in the number of headache days per month
- 25% reduction in headaches intensity and duration
This followed a short, 3-month course of chiropractic care compared to a control group receiving non-manual care.
Study 2: Another study compared chiropractic adjustments to mobilisations with exercise. Results showed that the chiropractic group had greater improvements, including:
- Fewer headache episodes
- Shorter duration of symptoms
This improvement occurred after just 6-8 sessions over a 4 week period.
Study 3: A review of multiple studies on chiropractic care and migraines found consistent outcomes: reduced frequency of migraines, lower pain intensity, and fewer migraine days overall.
What this means for you:
If you are living with frequent headaches or migraines, chiropractic care may be a safe, non-invasive option worth exploring. Chiropractic care works by addressing the dysfunction in the spine and nervous system – factors that may contribute to certain types of headaches.
Book a consultation today and discover how chiropractic care could help reduce the frequency and intensity of your symptoms
A.Chaibi et all (2017) Chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache: a single-blinded, placebo, randomized controlled trial. BMC Research Notes
J. Dunning et al (2016) Upper cervical and upper thoracic manipulation versus mobilization and exercise in patients with cervicogenic headache: a multi-center randomized clinical trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.
P.Rist (2020) The impact of spinal manipulation on migraine pain and disability: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Headache
M. Fernandez et al (2020). Spinal manipulation for the management of cervicogenic headache: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Pain