For some of us, headaches are a mild inconvenience. But sometimes, depending on the intensity, duration, and frequency, they can also be a debilitating condition.
Headaches are characterized by pain or discomfort in the head or upper neck. Interestingly enough, your brain tissue doesn’t have any pain-sensitive nerve fibres, so it doesn’t experience pain. It’s other parts of your head that are responsible for the pain you feel during these headaches.
Meet our team of skilled professionals who wake up every day with a commitment to make a difference in your journey to wellness. Our Chiropractors, massage therapists, and physiotherapists work together to provide comprehensive care, ensuring that all aspects of your health and well-being are addressed.
Indie Lewis Schwindt | Clinic Dog | Chiropractic Assistant | CJO (Chief Joy Officer)
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With MYo since October 8, 2021
“The MYo Lab team has been a life saviour for me when it comes to my chronic headaches and neck pain. Having been to several different clinics in the past, I finally found the one that works for me. The teams dedication to my treatment plan and progress is truly second to none. I not only leave each session pain free, but feeling like they had my best interest in mind each session. They truly are there for their patients! Both my partner and I are blown away by everything… right when you walk in the door to when you leave. TRULY THE BEST, don’t look elsewhere if you’re struggling with pain.”
The People Model Mgmt
“Where to even begin… I cannot say enough good things about every person I interact with in this amazing place from front reception to the owner and everyone in between. This entire team of people CARE!!!! They go above and beyond to help in any way they possibly can…they dig deep and then they dig even further to explore every possible thing that can be done to improve overall quality of life. I have a 9 year history of misdiagnosis and lack of any real action and lack of any kind of bedside manner…and was on the brink of literally giving up out of frustration and hopelessness…and I am not being dramatic. If you are experiencing the same then stop wherever you are going right now and make an appointment to get in to MYo Lab. I will give you one example and I have many to choose from… The owner, when Covid hit, fought to have me recognized as urgent care as I was going out of my mind with Migraines and personally met me for treatment when no one else was willing or “able” to do anything. All I can say is his ongoing persistence and his and his team’s ability to be able to get a laugh out of me when all I can do is cry is a testament to how truly special these people are and why I will recommend them to anyone who will listen…”
Pam W.
“Came to Myo Lab after finding myself having headaches at the end of each work day, neck strain, and shoulder and back pain. Dr. Terrance was able to give an in-depth assessment, explain the mechanics, and put together a recovery plan. Felt relieve after just 2 weeks. And my headaches haven’t returned, even 3 months later.
Zack provided RMT for recovery and ongoing maintenance. He provides lots of insight into your body mechanics, gives tips on how to stay on top of your recovery, and checks in throughout the service to ensure all your concerns are being addressed.
Great place, knowledgeable staff, friendly reception, easy payments, and they have parking available.”
Matt M.
Headaches are broadly categorized into primary and secondary types; we’ll cover some of the most common ones:
Primary Headaches: These aren’t caused by another medical condition and include:
Secondary Headaches: These result from underlying health issues, such as infections, head injury, or vascular disorders. Conditions like sinus infections or aneurysms can lead to secondary headaches.
The causes of headaches completely depend on the type. For example:
In addition to the above, there are several other causes of primary headaches:
Other general causes for secondary headaches could be:
Here’s our Chiropractor’s take on effectively stretching your neck to minimize headaches:
The symptoms of headaches can help differentiate the type:
Chiropractors may treat headaches through a combination of spinal adjustments, Soft Tissue therapy, Dry-needing, Acupuncture, and lifestyle advice.
Here’s a detailed look at how we may approach headache treatment:
Headaches may sometimes originate from misalignments or tension in the spine, particularly in the cervical (neck) region, termed a cervicogenic headache. We use specific techniques to adjust the spine, aiming to improve spinal function and alleviate stress on the nervous system. This can help reduce the frequency and severity of the headaches you experience.
There are lots of studies that have shown how Spinal Manipulative Therapy (i.e., “adjustments”) can be effective for certain types of headaches, such as tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches, which are headaches that stem from neck issues.
In addition to spinal adjustments, we may also use soft tissue therapies to relieve muscle tension and improve circulation. Techniques such as Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, and Myofascial Release can help relax tight muscles and reduce headache symptoms.
Both Acupuncture and Dry-needling are great options and offer minimally invasive options for headache relief.
A traditional Chinese medicine technique, Acupuncture involves inserting tiny needles into specific points on your body to balance the body’s energy flow, or “qi.” This helps relieve headache symptoms by reducing muscle tension, increasing blood flow, and stimulating the release of pain-relieving chemicals in the body, such as endorphins.
Dry-needling is a more recent therapeutic technique similar to acupuncture, but it specifically targets myofascial trigger points—tight, tender knots in muscles that can refer pain to other areas. For headache treatment, dry needling involves inserting thin needles directly into these trigger points to alleviate muscle tension, improve blood flow, reduce referred pain from the neck and shoulders to the head.
This technique can be particularly effective for tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches, which are headaches originating from musculoskeletal issues in the neck.
Your headaches could also be a result of lifestyle choices, and we want to be able to address those as well. This can include:
In the end, as Chiropractors, we use a holistic approach to treating headaches. This multifaceted approach allows us to address the root causes of your headaches (we don’t want quick, temporary fixes!) and provide long-term relief.
Here are some neck exercises you can try out:
MYo Lab Health & Wellness is located at 227 10 St NW, Suite 300, Calgary, Alberta. It’s a short 5-minute walk from the Sunnyside C-Train station.
Parking: We offer 5 complimentary parking spots out back (spots 209, 213, 214, 215, 216). There are also several 2-hour paid parking spots on the streets around us. Additionally, there are two parking lots across the street from our building, one outdoor parking lot and one underground parking lot.
If you need further direction, feel free to call (403) 930-8686 for assistance.
General Health/Well-Being
Chiropractic care may offer relief for some migraine sufferers, particularly those whose headaches are triggered or exacerbated by musculoskeletal issues. Chiropractors often focus on spinal adjustments and manipulations to alleviate tension and improve motion in the spine, which can potentially reduce headache frequency and severity. Additionally, soft tissue release techniques and dry needling have been proven to also help relieve tension in areas, which again improves spinal mobility and can have a positive effect on some people who suffer from migraines. After completion of your assessment, your Chiropractor will be able to determine if Chiropractic care is likely to be an effective way to manage or resolve your migraine symptoms.
Consistently experiencing headaches in the same spot is likely because there’s an underlying condition creating the headache. This may be muscle tension or trigger points, nerve irritation, structural issues, repetitive activities, or underlying conditions like migraines or TMJ (jaw) disorders. Identifying the specific cause often requires evaluation by a healthcare professional.
Your treatment will be based on the underlying cause but may involve addressing muscle tightness, improving posture, managing stress, or using medication, depending on what is likely to provide the best relief. Common muscle groups that can create trigger point pain similar to headaches would be your upper traps, sternocleidomastoid, and suboccipital muscles, and a Chiropractor would likely focus their treatment in these areas.
A tension headache is a common type of headache characterized by mild to moderate pain resembling a tight band around the head. It’s often caused by muscle tension in the neck, scalp, or shoulders. Stress, poor posture, and anxiety are common triggers. Treatment includes breathing techniques to combat stress and addressing underlying causes of muscle tension. Common muscle groups that cause tension headaches would be your upper traps, sternocleidomastoid, and suboccipital muscles. Also, it’s important to address any upper back postural issues by strengthening your lower trap muscle and rhomboids.
Yes, tight muscles, such as those in the neck, shoulders, and scalp, can contribute to headaches, particularly tension headaches. Muscle tension in these areas can lead to referred pain, exacerbating headache symptoms. Common muscle groups that cause tension headaches would be your upper traps, sternocleidomastoid, and suboccipital muscles. Where you experience your headache is often a good indicator of what muscles may be involved, as many of these trigger points have common & identifiable referral patterns. Techniques like stretching, massage, and relaxation exercises targeting these muscles can help alleviate headache discomfort.
If you suspect a concussion, seek immediate medical attention if you’re experiencing symptoms like headache, dizziness, or confusion. Diagnosis of a concussion is critical so that the correct approach to rest and recovery can start. Headaches are the most common symptom of a concussion. As research on concussions is evolving, it’s important to find a practitioner who has recent training in diagnosing and treating concussions so that you get the most up-to-date information. Baseline concussion assessments are very beneficial to have for anyone involved in contact sports so that a practitioner can compare symptoms after an injury to your baseline, which helps identify whether or not you have suffered a concussion.
Here’s how you can manage a concussion:
If you’ve been experiencing uncontrollable headaches or migraines and are looking for a natural way to manage them, book an appointment with one of our Chiropractors. Alternatively, you can call us at (403)930-8686. We’re currently accepting new patients.
