Tension Headaches
80% of adults will experience tension headaches at some point. They are caused by tight muscles surrounding the neck, pressing on nerves that refer pain to another location, in this case, the head.
Most often, tension headaches are triggered by lifestyle factors such as poor posture i.e. from sitting hunched over at a computer and/or stress.
Almost all types of headache activate the same pain receptors so it can be difficult to know if your headache pain is a sign of something more serious. When experienced suddenly or regularly, you should always get your headache pain assessed by a health professional to rule out any serious health conditions.
Stretches
If you have been diagnosed with tension headaches alone, the good news is they respond well to treatment. Here are a few stretches to help relieve the pain they cause:
Stretch 1
This is a neck flexion stretch that you should repeat 10 times, holding for a few seconds each time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZe7c0kpZA4
Stretch 2
This is a stretch for the upper trapezius that you should repeat 10 times, holding for a few seconds each time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRtWVO1zKLE
Stretch 3
This is a stretch for the scalene muscles that you should repeat 10 times, holding for a few seconds each time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUHsyB-opYg
Stretch 4
This is a levator scapulae stretch that you should repeat 10 times, holding for a few seconds each time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k9cNIlIE-Q
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