How Physical Therapy Treats Headaches, Dizziness & Balance Problems

Do you tell yourself “It’s just a headache” or “I’m just getting old”?  We often let these chronic symptoms become an accepted part of our daily life.  We let frequent headaches, dizziness, jaw pain, imbalance, or dizziness/concussion symptoms become an accepted norm.  But that should not be the case.  Not when seeing a PT can help you to get rid of those chronic issues and improve the quality of your daily life.  The start of the new year is a great time to prioritize your health and wellness.  Check out how a PT can help you:

No More Daily Headaches

Over 13 million people in the United States live with chronic tension type headaches.  An additional 3 million people have chronic migraine.  A chronic headache is when it is present on 15 or more days a month for 3 or more months.  That’s a lot of time spent with headaches!  Did you know that PT can help with both chronic migraines and tension type headaches?  

The neck is often a problem in individuals with both types of headache disorders.  Problems such as tight muscles, reduced joint mobility, changes in posture, trigger points, and muscle weaknesses will contribute to or begin a headache cycle.  A physical therapist can assess these problems and develop an effective treatment plan specific to your daily routine and activities. 

A Clicking, Painful Jaw Is Not Normal

Frequently, people do not know that a physical therapist can help with pain in the TMJs (your jaw!). Common symptoms of jaw pain include: clicking, popping, feeling like the mouth is “stuck” open or will not close properly, ear pain, tooth/gum pain, sensitivity to touch in front of the ear/cheek, and even head pain.  

Many people will discuss these problems with their dentist and are often prescribed a mouthguard.  This is a great intervention because it will help protect the teeth from problems associated with clenching or grinding the teeth at night.  The problem with mouthguards is that they do not correct muscle weaknesses, tissue restrictions, postural tendencies, and joint/disc problems that contribute to TMJ pain.  

A physical therapist will be able to help with these by evaluating not only your jaw, but also your posture, neck and upper back mobility and strength.  From there, a treatment plan is developed to address all of the other impairments that are contributing to your TMJ pain.  

Bad Balance?  Stop A Fall Before It Happens

Falls are generally accepted as a normal part of aging.  However, our balance begins to deteriorate as early as our 40’s and 50’s.  Why?  Simply put: We stop working on it!  Maybe you notice that it is more difficult to stand on one foot to put on your socks and shoes.  Or maybe you feel a little more unsteady climbing stairs while carrying items from your basement.  Perhaps even walking through the yard, loose sand on a beach, or uneven park trails gives you more of a challenge than it used to.  

Either way, you can proactively address these small changes in your balance BEFORE they potentially add up to big problems later in life.  You do not have to wait to see a PT once you know you have a big problem.  You can see a physical therapist to stay well!  Try getting your balance checked annually to stay on top of any little problems before they cause you trouble. 

Dizziness & Post-Concussion Symptoms Do Not Have to Be Your Normal

Dizziness that is caused by neck or inner ear dysfunction, and lingering post-concussion symptoms can be helped by physical therapy as well!  When you work with a physical therapist who specializes in vestibular and concussion treatments, you can reduce or even eliminate those nagging symptoms.  

Vestibular problems can interfere with your balance and stability and make day to day movements like rolling over in bed or bending down to tie you shoes difficult.  And post-concussion symptoms like headaches, blurred vision, and imbalance can make getting through your day a regular challenge.  Why continue to “deal with” these problems when there is something you can do about them instead?

Take A Step Toward Wellness With a PT On Your Team

Adding a physical therapist to your healthcare team can help you eliminate those nagging health problems that you have learned to just “deal with.”  A PT will work with you and your healthcare team to address things like:  flexibility, joint mobility, strength, stability, posture, balance, and movement patterns for daily tasks like walking, lifting and carrying.  We can give you suggestions on how to set up your home and work environment to reduce strain and stress to your body and get you (and keep you) feeling your best!