Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are a type of headache that are characterized by symmetric pressure or a tight band around the head. The source of the headache can be from muscle tension in the jaw and the neck, particularly the suboccipital muscles. The suboccipital muscles attach at the base of the skull and the first and second vertebrae in the neck; they help move and stabilize the head and contain many proprioceptive nerve endings. These nerve endings provide information to the brain about where the neck and head are in space and allow for the brain to coordinate complex movements such as being able to fix your eyes on a ball while you’re running to catch it.  

These small and important muscles are injured in whiplash injuries and concussion and when they heal, they contain scar tissue which limits flexibility of the muscle and impairs their function. These muscles can also develop tightness and scar tissue from repetitive use such as chronically working on a computer; not only are they a cause of headache but persistent injury and dysfunction of the suboccipitals contribute to lingering concussion symptoms as well. Active Release Techniques® helps to identify the specific muscles impacted and restore muscle integrity and mobility to reduce symptoms of tension headaches.