Rec Center Physical Therapy

Aches or Pains limiting your daily activities in life?

Physical Therapists have the most specialized education to improve quality of life without surgery or prescription drugs.

Consider our expert care at Rec Center Physical Therapy as your first line of defense to address any limitations you may be experiencing.

Your First Visit

• Allow at least 1 hour for the first visit
• Child care available
• Arrive 10-15 minutes early
• Bring insurance card and doctor's referral/order if applicable
• All patients under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult
• Front row parking is available for our patients (next to handicapped parking)
• Bring or wear comfortable clothing to allow accessible treatment for your evaluation. (clinic may also provide you with clothing)

Headaches

Definition

Headache is defined as pain in the head or upper neck. It is one of the most common locations of pain in the body and has many causes.

All headaches are considered Primary Headaches or Secondary Headaches.

Primary headaches are Tension Headaches, Migraine Headaches and Cluster Headaches. Secondary Headaches are caused by other diseases. The associated disease may be minor or major and can include brain tumors, strokes, meningitis, bleeding in the brain, caffeine withdrawal or discontinuation of pain medication. Nerve pain in the head and neck region is another cause of headache pain.

Symptoms of Tension Headaches:

• Pain that begins at the back of the head and upper neck as a band-like tightness or pressure
• Described as a band of pressure encircling the head with the most intense pain over the eyebrows
• Pain is usually mild (not disabling) and affecting both sides of the head
• Not associated with nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to light and sound
• Usually occur infrequently and without a pattern, but can occur frequently and even daily in some people
• Most people are able to function despite their tension headaches

Physical Therapy Intervention

Rec Center Physical therapy can be the first line of defense for those suffering from tension headaches by offering treatments such as use of heat, cold, massage, modalities, stress management, stretching and/or strengthening exercises and postural and worksite modifications.

Symptoms of Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches are different for different people and are sometimes different from migraine to migraine. The following 5 phases have been noted:

• Prodrome: (a period of warning symptoms)
  Many symptoms can precede a migraine headache; these include changes in mood (happiness, irritability, sadness) or sensation (funny tastes or smells.) Many people experience fatigue, increased yawning and muscle tension before a migraine headache.
• Visual or Auditory Disturbances (Auras)
  Some people develop "blind spots", see geometric patterns, flashing lights, experience vision on only one side or less commonly have hearing hallucinations.
• Headache:
  Although migraine pain usually appears on one side of the head, 30-40 percent of sufferers have them on both sides. Throbbing pain may occur. Over 80 percent of people feel nauseated and many vomit. About 70 percent of people become light and sound sensitive. This phase may last 4-72 hours.
• Headache Termination:
  Even if untreated, the pain usually goes away with sleep.
• Postdrome:
  Migraine sufferers may not feel well for some time after the migraine stops. They may not be able to eat right away. Problems with thinking and tiredness are common.

Treatment of Migraine Headaches:

Use of cold compress to the area of pain, resting in a dark, quiet place, avoiding odors, withdrawing from stressful surroundings, sleeping, moderate caffeine consumption, taking over the counter migraine headache relievers containing a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine and taking prescribed migraine headache medications.

Symptoms of Cluster Headaches:

• Excruciating deep, explosive and/or piercing (but usually not throbbing), eye pain, most often described as an ice pick stabbing into the eye.
• One sided nasal congestion, stuffy and runny nose on the same side as the pain around the eye
• Watery, tearing of the eye
• Increased blood flow to the membranes lining the eyeballs and the insides of the eyelids.
• Swollen eyelids
• Rapid heartbeat

Treatment of Cluster Headaches

Preventative drug therapy prescribed by a physician and surgical options for people not responding to standard drug treatments.