Chiropractic Benefits for Headaches—Scientific Evidence

Chronic headaches can seriously disrupt your life, preventing you from working or spending time with loved ones. It's also frustrating to spend time and money on pharmaceuticals or therapies that have little effect. 

A beam of light is chiropractic treatment, which can significantly relieve headache symptoms. As the medical community learns more about the relationship between neck issues and headaches, they increasingly recommend chiropractic care for relief. 

Let's take a look at some research and noteworthy cases.

The Relationship between the Neck and Headaches

Connecting the Neck and Brain Stem 

Hack GD., Koritzer RT. Spine, 1995 

These researchers discovered a specific tissue that connects neck muscles to the brain stem's covering. Since then, scientists have been investigating the relationships between neck muscles, headaches, and chiropractic care. 

Neck Joints and Back-of-the-head Pain

Aprill C, Axinn MJ, Bogduk N. Cephalalgia, 2002

Occipital headaches often cause sharp, stabbing pain in the back of the head. This case study searched for a relationship between occipital headaches and the C1-C2 joint, which is located at the base of the skull. 

Researchers used precise injections of local anesthetic to determine which specific nerve was causing the headache pain. Of the 34 patients with occipital headaches, 21 experienced complete relief after the injection. This suggests that the occipital headaches often stem from the C1-C2 joint – which is often targeted by chiropractic adjustments. 

Clinical Trials Studying Chiropractic Care 

The number of formal clinical trials studying chiropractic care has greatly increased in the past fifty years. Here are just a few concerning headaches:

Clinical Trial: Spinal Manipulation vs. Antidepressants for Migraines

Nelson CF, Bronfort G, et al. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 1998.

This clinical trial compared the effects of spinal manipulation, Elavil (an antidepressant), and a combination of both for preventing migraines. 

The results showed that: 

• Chiropractic treatment significantly reduced the severity and frequency of headaches 
• The chiropractic treatment worked "as well or better than" than the other two groups, but with far fewer side effects

Clinical Trial: Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT) for Migraines

Tuchin PJ, Pollard H, Bonello R. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 2000

This six-month clinical trial studied the effects of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) on migraines. Of the 127 patients, half were given SMT and half were the control group. 

After two months of SMT, the chiropractic group experienced greater overall improvements than the control group. 

• More members of the chiropractic group reported improvement in migraine frequency, duration, disability, and medication use. (However, the chiropractic group did not report statistically significant improvement in migraine intensity.)
• 22% of the chiropractic group reported a more than 90% reduction in migraines 

Analyzing the Results 

While more research is needed, scientists have compared the results of different clinical trials and noticed some consistent benefits of chiropractic care.

Short-Term Relief for Chronic Headaches

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, September 2001

This report compared different methods of giving short-term relief for chronic headaches. Researchers analyzed 9 clinical trials that compared massage, medication, and spinal manipulative therapy (SMT). In SMT, the chiropractor applies controlled pressure to spinal joints. 

After analyzing 9 clinical trials, researchers noticed that:

• Chiropractic care appeared to offer greater short-term relief than massage therapy, though more evidence is needed. 
• Chiropractic care and medication offered similar relief. However, chiropractic care causes fewer negative side effects – this makes it a more practical option for many patients.

Spinal Manipulation for Cervicogenic Headaches 

McCrocy D, Gray R. Duke University, 2001

Cervicogenic headaches stem from underlying issues in the neck. While more research is needed, Duke University reviewers noted that physical and behavioral therapies such as spinal manipulation can be helpful for treating cervicogenic headaches. 

Individual Case Reports 

Every patient is different: Not everyone experiences the same results from the same treatment. However, it's worth sharing success stories from individual headache patients. 

Case Report: Chiropractic Care for a Child's Headaches and Teeth Grinding

Knutson GJ. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 2003

A six-year-old child suffered from chronic sleep bruxism (tooth grinding), morning headaches, and neck pain. She experienced complete relief after chiropractic adjustments to her neck. 

Case Report: Chiropractic Care for a Child's Chronic Migraines

Bofshever, H. International Chiropractic Pediatric Newsletter, 200

A ten-year-old girl suffered from such severe chronic migraines that she couldn't attend school. She was also on prescription antihistamines. 

After three chiropractic adjustments, she returned to school, stopped taking the antihistamine, returned to dance classes for the first time in two years, and "actually began to smile again." By the fifth adjustment, she was leading a normal and healthy life. 

Headache Relief with Elevate Chiropractic

How long have you been suffering from headaches, and how have they affected your quality life? Let's discuss and make a plan for chiropractic care together. 

Schedule your free consultation here.