Tag: whiplash

What is Physiotherapy and Can it Help Me?

Back Pain Headaches Physiotherapy No Comments

As physiotherapists, we are often asked what we do and how it benefits the client. Physiotherapists primarily deal with movement. Another words, we ensure that your body functions and moves in an optimal, pain free and effective way. Problems with movement can be related to congenital (birth) issues, be a result of an accident, sporting or workplace injury, or be due to a major medical event such as a stroke or neurological condition. So whether you are young and active or elderly and sedentary, chances are at some stage in your life, you may benefit from physiotherapy.

Physiotherapists use a variety of techniques to ensure the optimal functioning of the muscles, joints and nerves. These include joint mobilisation or manipulation, muscle releases/massage, muscle retraining, exercise programs, electrotherapy to speed up healing and reduce inflammation, strapping and assistance with using various aids or braces. These techniques are used to help treat a variety of problems, including:

*Back pain
* Neck pain, headaches and whiplash,
*Arthritis
*Sports Injuries
* Rehabilitation from neurological disorders such as stroke, head injuries
* Upper limb pain including RSI, rotator cuff strains, tennis elbow etc
* Childrens problems such as cerebral palsy
* Pregnancy pain and weakness as well as incontinence

When you visit a physiotherapist, they will take a detailed history, perform a thorough physical examination, provide hands on treatment to address the problems found, advise you on the best course of management for your condition, and provide a home exercise program for you to optimise your physiotherapy consultation. The number of consultations required will depend on the severity and duration of your problems. If you have any queries about how physiotherapy may help you, please call your local physio who will be more than happy to answer any questions.

Rebecca Steele owns Hinteractive Physio in Cooroy and can be contacted on 5442 5556.

Is your Headache a Pain in the Neck?

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Headaches where the pain originates in the cervical spine (upper spine), neck and upper shoulders are often referred to as a “cervicogenic” headache. Many times, these headaches can be a byproduct of injuries such as whiplash, joint or muscle trauma and more commonly due to poor prolonged posture or even cases of severe stress.

Headaches are one of the most common ailments in modern society, approximately 12-15% of the population suffers from headaches each year. Usually these are minor stress or tension related headaches, and in some people are more severe migraine headaches. Unfortunately, one type of headache that is often overlooked and misdiagnosed is the cervicogenic headache.

Cervicogenic headaches are one of the most common types of headache, and are clinically defined as pain that is present in the head, but which originates in the cervical spine. The pain associated with this condition is an example of referred pain. This occurs because the nerves that supply the sensation in the upper neck also supply the skin overlying the head, forehead, jawline, back of the ear and behind the eye. Pain that begins in the base of your neck in the cervical spine and then progressively spreads upwards into the head is a typical symptom of cervicogenic headache.

There are two symptoms that are classic to those with cervicogenic headaches.

 

  • The first is that the headache can be made worse or actually onset by head or neck movement.
  • The second is that there is marked tenderness in the suboccipital (base of head) region.

A thorough examination by your physiotherapist or doctor is usually sufficient to diagnose cervicogenic headache. Occasionally further investigations may be required, such as Xray or CT scan / MRI if there are some complicating symptoms and circumstances. These headaches arising from the neck generally respond quite quickly to treatment and a complete resolution of symptoms can be expected if there are no underlying causes still present. In some cases where the headaches are quite long-term (chronic) your physiotherapist may have to address your posture (study, work and sleep), spinal stiffness, muscle weakness / tightness and imbalances, along with advice on exercises, pillows for sleep and other lifestyle factors. Immediate treatment is the best management for all headaches caused by the neck that do not resolve within a few days of rest and analgesia.

Local physiotherapist, Craig Steele, has had extensive experience in treating headaches and neck / jaw problems related to cervicogenic headaches. He can be contacted at Hinteractive Physio on 5442 5556 for consultations and further advice regarding your treatment.

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