Physiotherapy and massage techniques for women dealing with headaches

Headaches can be a real pain — literally and figuratively. For many women, they’re an all-too-common part of life, often disrupting daily activities and impacting overall well-being. Whether it’s the tension that creeps in after a long day at work, the throbbing pain that accompanies hormonal changes or the debilitating migraines that strike without warning, headaches can make even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming.

But here’s the good news: Physiotherapy and remedial massage offer natural, effective ways to manage and alleviate headache pain. In this blog, we’ll explore how physio and massage techniques for headaches can bring relief, helping you reclaim your days and improve your quality of life.

Types of headaches

Understanding the different types of headaches and their causes can help women to find effective treatments and manage symptoms. Common headache types include:

• Tension headaches: Dull, aching pain and a feeling of tightness or pressure around the forehead or the back of the head and neck. Causes include stress, anxiety, poor posture, eye strain and fatigue.

• Migraines: Intense, throbbing pain that can last for hours to days, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound.

• Cluster headaches: Severe pain around one eye or one side of the head, occurring in cyclical patterns or clusters. Triggers include alcohol and strong smells.

• Hormone headaches: Linked to hormonal changes, such as during menstruation, pregnancy, menopause or due to birth control pills.

• Sinus headaches: Pain and pressure around the forehead, cheeks and eyes, often with sinus symptoms like congestion and a runny nose.

Can physio help with headaches?

At Papaya Clinic, how we manage headaches depends on what’s driving the headaches. We identify the driver and treat the root cause. Physiotherapy is a natural way to treat headaches of all kinds. If your headaches are biomechanical and loading posture related, physios can use treatment strategies such as:

• Mobilisation

• Dry needling

• Taping 

• Retraining movements in the shoulder and scapula 

• Massage

While physiotherapy can reduce symptoms, our women’s health physio may cross-refer you to one of our acupuncturists or massage therapists if appropriate. When a hormonal driver is behind your headaches or migraines, acupuncture will help to balance your hormones. 

Is it good to massage a headache?

While a physio is generally the first and best person to see when experiencing headaches, a massage therapist can also help you find relief. Here’s why massage can be beneficial for headaches:

• Targets painful areas: Massage helps to focus on specific areas of discomfort, such as the temples, neck and shoulders, which can provide targeted relief from headache pain.

• Encourages natural healing: By stimulating blood flow and relaxing tense muscles, massage supports the body's natural healing processes, which can lead to longer-lasting relief.

• Enhances emotional well-being: Beyond physical relief, massage promotes a sense of calm and well-being, which can help alleviate the stress and anxiety that often accompany headaches.

• Improves sleep: Massage can help improve sleep by promoting relaxation and reducing the tension that may disrupt restful sleep, which in turn can reduce headache frequency and intensity.

How can remedial massage help headaches?

While physiotherapy targets the underlying causes of headaches, remedial massage also can play a part in managing headaches. Here’s how it can help:

• Relieves muscle tension: It targets tight muscles in the neck, shoulders and head, helping to ease the tension that often contributes to headaches.

• Enhances blood flow: Improved circulation aids in delivering essential nutrients and oxygen to the affected areas, which can help reduce headache pain.

• Reduces stress: Remedial massage promotes relaxation and lowers stress levels, addressing a key trigger for many headaches.

• Promotes overall relaxation: By soothing the nervous system, it helps to lessen the frequency and severity of headaches.

The benefits of remedial massage are particularly valuable for those suffering from tension and stress-related headaches. During pregnancy, it's completely normal to experience increased stress, tension and headaches as your body undergoes significant changes. The good news is that pregnancy remedial massage offers a gentle and soothing approach to alleviate these discomforts. It's a nurturing way to care for yourself during this special time, helping to ease headache pain and contribute to a more comfortable and enjoyable pregnancy experience.

Remedial massage techniques for headaches

Remedial massage combines various techniques to alleviate pain and improve overall well-being, such as:

Trigger point therapy

Trigger point therapy focuses on identifying and releasing specific tight spots in the muscles that refer pain to the head. These trigger points are often found in the neck, shoulders and upper back. By applying targeted pressure to these areas, the therapy helps to relax the muscle fibres and reduce the intensity of headache pain. This technique can provide significant relief for headaches caused by muscle tension and stress.

Scalp massage

Scalp massage is a simple yet highly effective technique for headache relief. By using gentle, circular motions on the scalp, this massage increases blood flow to the area and helps to relax the muscles around the head. The increased circulation can reduce pain and tension, providing quick relief from headache symptoms. Scalp massage is particularly useful for tension headaches and can be easily incorporated into your daily routine.

Myofascial release

Myofascial release targets the connective tissues (fascia) that surround muscles and can become tight and restricted, contributing to headache discomfort. This technique involves gentle stretching and manipulation of the fascia to release tension and improve mobility. By addressing these restrictions, myofascial release can help reduce headache pain and improve overall movement, offering long-lasting relief.

Deep tissue massage

Deep tissue massage works on the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to alleviate chronic tension and knots that can contribute to headaches. This technique involves applying firm pressure and slow strokes to reach the deeper muscle layers, addressing persistent tightness and pain. Deep tissue massage is particularly effective for individuals with chronic headaches due to muscle stiffness and tension.

Head and cranial massage

Head and cranial massage involves gentle, often circular, motions applied to the scalp and head to relieve headache symptoms. This approach focuses on increasing blood flow, relaxing tense muscle, and easing discomfort in the cranial region. By using soothing, circular motions and pressure, head and cranial massage helps to reduce tension and alleviate pain. It is particularly effective for tension headaches and can provide quick, comforting relief by addressing muscle tightness and promoting overall relaxation. 

Craniosacral therapy

More specialised than head and cranial massage, craniosacral therapy is a gentle form of bodywork that involves subtle manipulation of the skull and spine. This technique focuses on the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and aims to relieve tension in the cranial and spinal structures. By gently manipulating these areas, craniosacral therapy helps to ease headache symptoms and promote overall relaxation. This approach is beneficial for headaches linked to tension in the cranial region or disruptions in cerebrospinal fluid flow.

When to get a remedial massage for headache relief

Women experiencing headaches may benefit from getting remedial massage therapy in the following situations:

• Persistent or recurring headaches: If headaches are frequent or ongoing and self-treatment methods are not effective, a remedial massage therapist can offer a detailed assessment and targeted massage techniques.

• Severe discomfort: For severe or debilitating headaches that impact daily activities, a remedial massage therapist can provide specialised care to help alleviate pain and improve function.

• Muscle tension and stress: If headaches are related to muscle tension, stress or poor posture, a remedial massage therapist can apply techniques such as trigger point therapy and deep tissue massage to release tight muscles and relieve stress.

• Inadequate relief from other treatments: When traditional methods, like over-the-counter medications or self-massage, fail to provide sufficient relief, a professional therapist can offer advanced remedial massage techniques and a customised treatment plan.

• Specific pain locations: For headaches that are concentrated in particular areas, such as the neck or shoulders, a remedial massage therapist can use targeted techniques to address those specific pain points and improve overall comfort.

Each person's experience with headaches is unique, so it's important to consult a trusted remedial massage therapist to find the headache massage therapy that works best for you.

What can I expect from a remedial massage for headaches?

When you book a remedial massage at Papaya Clinic, we’ll get to know you before your appointment. You’ll receive a form so you can share your body concerns, aches and pains, movement background and any other relevant details. During your first consultation, your massage therapist will use a range of remedial massage techniques to address your specific needs.

Your therapist will ensure you aren’t alone after the session. They’ll offer guidance on self-care, including stretches, posture adjustments and relaxation techniques to help manage headaches and prevent future occurrences. Depending on your needs, your therapist might suggest follow-up sessions, self massage for headache relief or additional treatments to further address and manage your headache symptoms. 

Remedial massage for tension headaches and migraines in Sydney

Incorporating physiotherapy and remedial massage into your routine can offer significant relief for women dealing with headaches, addressing both the immediate discomfort and the underlying causes. At Papaya Clinic, we are committed to delivering exceptional care and helping you feel your best through personalised and holistic treatments. Whether you’re seeking a migraine or tension headache massage in Sydney, our team is here to support you. Book an appointment with our Sydney women’s health physio or massage therapist today to experience the Papaya difference.