• Tension-type headaches (TTH) typically cause pain that radiates in a band-like fashion bilaterally from the forehead to the occiput.  Pain often radiates to the neck muscles and is described as tightness, pressure, or dull ache.

• TTH have been experimentally induced by 30 minutes of teeth clenching, which resulted in facial tenderness.
Oct. 2002 American Journal of Public Health

• Clenching your teeth while asleep, or during the day, is a result of some of the strongest muscles in your body tensing—up to 10 times more intensely than non headache sufferers.

The Perpetuating Pain Cycle

Many people have chronic daily headaches that are produced by a perpetuating cycle: You’re under stress so you clench your teeth. This unknowingly produces pain which causes you to be stressed so that you clench even more. Because you have pain, even when you sleep you may unknowingly be clenching your teeth so that when you wake up your headache is no better and sometimes is worse than when you went to sleep! So you continue the cycle over and over. This is my personal definition of a chronic tension headache!

How did YOU get into this cycle and how can you get out? When muscles are stressed and taut they need assistance in relaxing. That’s where a professional massage therapist who specializes in head and neck work can get you started on the path to pain-free days. I work with my patients to recognize patterns that are unique to them, then help them to BREAK THE PAIN CYCLE! It CAN be done!

Call today to schedule an appointment to get you on the road to real relief: 319/841-2150 or 319/431-7186.