Acupuncture Can help
Acupuncture for Headaches & Migraines in Porter Ranch and Northridge, CA
Natural, Drug-Free Headache Care Presented by Soft Touch Chiropractic & Acupuncture Serving Porter Ranch, Northridge & the San Fernando Valley Headaches are not all the same. Migraine, tension-type headache, cervicogenic headache, sinus-type facial pain, and other headache disorders can have different causes and may require different approaches. For patients looking for a non-drug approach to recurring headaches and migraines, acupuncture is one treatment option supported by a growing body of clinical research. Does Acupuncture Help Migraine?Research is encouraging, particularly for migraine prevention. A major Cochrane systematic review of acupuncture for episodic migraine evaluated randomized clinical trials comparing acupuncture with routine care, sham acupuncture, and preventive medications. More recent research continues to support potential benefits. A 2024 systematic review and network meta-analysis involving 34 studies and 3,365 patients found improvements in migraine pain, attack frequency, duration, and migraine days with acupuncture-related therapies, although results varied considerably among studies. A systematic review of acupuncture for acute migraine attacks also found possible benefit compared with sham acupuncture, while emphasizing that the certainty of evidence for several outcomes remains low. In other words, acupuncture is promising—but it should not be presented as a guaranteed cure for migraine. Acupuncture for Tension Headaches Acupuncture has also been studied for tension-type headache. A systematic review examining acupuncture and manual therapy reviewed eight studies involving 3,846 participants and concluded that acupuncture and manual therapy may be useful non-pharmacological options for tension-type headache. Another systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture may have positive effects on headache frequency and quality of life. The authors concluded that acupuncture, manual joint mobilization, supervised physical activity, psychological treatment, and patient education can all be considered as non-pharmacological approaches, while also noting that the overall certainty of evidence was low to very low. What Does Physiotherapy Research Tell Us?Headache treatment does not necessarily need to rely on only one technique. Research from the physiotherapy and rehabilitation literature supports evaluating the cervical spine, muscles, movement, and physical function in appropriate headache patients. A systematic review of physiotherapy interventions for headache and migraine examined exercise, manual therapy, and physical therapy approaches for migraine, tension-type headache, and cervicogenic headache. More recently, a systematic review and network meta-analysis of physiotherapy for tension-type headache found that certain combinations of physiotherapy approaches—including manual therapy with exercise—may reduce headache frequency. Research also suggests that soft-tissue treatment may matter. A systematic review and meta-analysis of manual therapy found that soft-tissue interventions reduced pain intensity and headache frequency compared with no treatment, although the certainty of some evidence was low. More Than One Approach to Headache Care This research supports an important principle: There may not be one single treatment appropriate for every headache patient. Depending on the type of headache and examination findings, a comprehensive approach may consider:
Rather, it means that when cervical or musculoskeletal findings are also present, those factors may deserve evaluation as part of the patient's overall treatment plan. What Does Chiropractic Research Say About Headaches?The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics has published research examining headache mechanisms and conservative care. One JMPT review discussing migraine and tension-type headache examined the possible relationship between tension-type and migraine headache mechanisms and discussed the potential roles of muscle contraction, nociception, and neurological processes. Modern headache science has continued to evolve considerably since that publication, so this older paper should be viewed as part of the historical development of headache research rather than definitive evidence for a particular treatment. Current evidence generally supports evaluating each headache patient individually rather than assuming that acupuncture, chiropractic manipulation, physiotherapy, or any single treatment is appropriate for everyone. Acupuncture as Part of Comprehensive Headache Care For some patients, acupuncture may be used by itself. For others, it may be incorporated into a broader treatment program when clinically appropriate. This is particularly relevant when a headache patient also presents with: Neck stiffness • suboccipital tightness • shoulder tension • temporalis tenderness • reduced cervical movement • posture-related discomfort The goal is to determine which findings are relevant to the individual patient and develop an appropriate treatment strategy. Learn more about our comprehensive approach to neck pain and headaches. You can also learn about our gentle approach to chiropractic care. Acupuncture for Headaches in Porter Ranch & Northridge, California If you are searching for acupuncture for migraines in Porter Ranch, acupuncture for headaches in Northridge, or natural headache treatment in the San Fernando Valley, consider an evaluation to determine what type of headache you may be experiencing and which conservative treatment options may be appropriate. Schedule an Evaluation Soft Touch Chiropractic & Acupuncture Serving Porter Ranch, Northridge & the San Fernando Valley, California Call: 818-831-0100 
Our approach is not simply about treating where you hurt. We look at the type of headache, associated neck and muscular findings, movement restrictions, and the individual patient to determine an appropriate treatment plan.
Important: New or unusually severe headaches, sudden “worst headache” symptoms, headaches following significant trauma, or headaches accompanied by weakness, confusion, fainting, fever, vision loss, speech difficulty, or other neurological symptoms require appropriate medical evaluation. |
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rel=”author”>Masoud Shamaeizadeh
