Effective Headache Cures

What Causes a Neck Spasm Headache?

May 6th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

The most common type of headache is a tension headache. It is also know as a muscle contraction headache. These neck spasm headaches are the result of tense muscles or spasms in the neck and shoulders. It is no wonder that these headaches are the most common. We live in a fast-paced society with high-stressed jobs, little exercise and poor diets.

Several studies have been conducted on tension headaches. One study found that many tension headache sufferers experience them once a week. Even though they are common, doctors find them difficult to diagnose and treat. There are however several ways that a neck spasm headache can be treated. You will want to familiarize yourself with them and decide which one most suits your way of thinking.

Neck Spasm Headache – What’s the Cause?

The pain felt in a neck spasm headache is the result of muscle spasms in the neck and shoulders aggravating the nerves in the base of the head. This causes pain at the base of the head and the scalp. What causes you to have muscle spasms? One cause is having been rear ended by another vehicle.

This is one of the more intense causes of a muscle spasm. Such an accident places a large amount of force on the neck, and the muscles located in the neck tighten in response to the pressure. The neck muscles can remain in spasm long after other injuries have healed, and this is why a neck spasm headache resulting from a car accident many become chronic. Less serious causes of the muscle spasms in the neck that could lead to a neck spasm headache include situations where the neck or spine may be held in one position for too long, such as when you sleep in a chair, work at a computer, or drive for a long period of time.

Treatment of a Neck Spasm Headache

The neck spasm headache sufferer has a variety of choices for treatment. Many have found that acupuncture is extremely successful because it seems to reduce or eliminate the spasms. Another treatment is manipulative therapy. This involves stretching the muscles very quickly to get them back to normal. Another approach is Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). These remedies are very popular with those who prefer not to take medications.