Migraine

Migraine is believed to be a chronic neurological disturbance that is characterized by pulsating pain exerted on one side of the head. It is a painful experience that can last from 2 to 72 hours with moderate to severe levels of pain, usually aggravated by physical activity. Other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light (photophobia), sensitivity to sound (phonophobia) may also be present. One third of the patients may also experience the aura, an instant visual, vocal, sensory or even motor disturbance.

Therapeutic Approach

The clinician will explore the individual’s condition by taking a full medical history and performing a thorough clinical evaluation so as to exclude any other type of headache. He will then proceed to the analysis of the biomechanics mainly of the neck and the thorax, and will follow a treatment protocol of manipulative techniques, exercises, acupuncture and hydrotherapy for the reduction of neuromuscular tension of the neck region*. In the following sessions the clinician will treat other regions and systems of the body in order to create a physical, a biochemical and a psychological balance, and he will look more into the dietary habits or food intolerances of the patient.

Note: techniques on the neck are avoided in an acute episode of pain; they are only applied in adjacent regions. In the suspicion of bone fracture or metastasis the patient is immediately referred.