Migraines are often misunderstood. Many people assume a migraine is simply a severe headache, but anyone who has experienced one knows it is far more complex than that. Migraines can affect vision, balance, concentration, mood, energy levels, and even the ability to function normally throughout the day. For some individuals, migraines occur occasionally, while for others they become a chronic and debilitating part of life.
As chiropractors, we frequently see patients who have spent years trying to manage recurring headaches and migraines without fully understanding what may be contributing to them. While migraines can have many different triggers and underlying factors, addressing musculoskeletal dysfunction, stress, posture, and nervous system tension can play an important role in reducing the frequency and severity of symptoms.
What Exactly Is a Migraine?
A migraine is a neurological condition characterised by episodes of moderate to severe head pain, often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, dizziness, and visual disturbances.
Migraines commonly present as:
- Throbbing or pulsating pain
- Pain on one side of the head (although it can occur on both sides)
- Sensitivity to light, sound, or smells
- Nausea or vomiting
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fatigue or brain fog
- Neck tension or stiffness
Migraine attacks can last anywhere from a few hours to several days, and many sufferers report feeling “hungover” or exhausted afterwards.
The Different Stages of a Migraine
Migraines often occur in phases, although not every person experiences every stage.
1. Prodrome Phase
This phase can begin hours or even days before the migraine itself. Many people notice subtle warning signs that something is “off.”
Common prodrome symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Mood changes or irritability
- Food cravings
- Increased thirst
- Neck stiffness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Frequent yawning
This stage is the body’s early warning system and is often overlooked.
2. Aura Phase
Approximately one-third of migraine sufferers experience an aura before the headache begins.
An aura is a temporary neurological disturbance that can affect vision, sensation, speech, or movement.
Common migraine aura symptoms include:
- Flashing lights or zigzag lines
- Blurred vision or blind spots
- Tingling or numbness
- Dizziness
- Difficulty speaking
- Feeling disconnected or mentally foggy
Aura symptoms typically develop gradually and last between 5 and 60 minutes.
3. Headache Phase
This is the phase most people associate with migraines. The pain can range from moderate to severe and is often worsened by movement, bright lights, loud noises, or physical activity.
Some individuals also experience:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Increased sensitivity to touch
- Tightness in the neck and shoulders
4. Postdrome Phase
After the migraine subsides, many people feel drained, mentally foggy, or unusually fatigued for up to 24 hours. This phase is often described as a “migraine hangover.”
Common Migraine Triggers
Migraines are highly individual, and triggers can vary significantly from person to person.
Some of the most common triggers include:
- Stress and emotional tension
- Poor sleep or disrupted sleep patterns
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Dehydration
- Skipping meals
- Excessive screen time
- Bright lights
- Strong smells
- Certain foods or alcohol
- Poor posture and muscle tension
- Neck dysfunction or stiffness
One of the biggest challenges with migraines is that triggers can accumulate. A person may tolerate one stressor well, but multiple triggers occurring together can push the nervous system beyond its threshold.
The Connection Between the Neck and Migraines
Many migraine sufferers also experience neck pain, stiffness, or tension before or during an attack.
Research suggests that the upper cervical spine (the upper neck) and the trigeminal nerve system are closely connected. Dysfunction, restricted movement, muscle tightness, or irritation in the neck may contribute to headache symptoms in some individuals.
Modern lifestyles also place significant strain on the neck and upper back. Long hours spent at desks, on phones, or working on computers can lead to:
- Forward head posture
- Increased muscle tension
- Joint restriction
- Reduced mobility
- Increased stress on the nervous system
Over time, this tension may contribute to headache patterns in susceptible individuals.
How Chiropractic Care May Help Migraine Sufferers
Chiropractic care does not “cure” migraines, and migraines are often multifactorial. However, chiropractic treatment may help reduce contributing musculoskeletal stressors and improve overall function.
For patients whose migraines are associated with neck tension, poor posture, joint restriction, or muscular dysfunction, chiropractic care may help by:
- Improving spinal and joint mobility
- Reducing muscle tension and tightness
- Addressing postural imbalances
- Improving neck function
- Reducing mechanical stress on the nervous system
- Helping patients identify physical triggers
Treatment may include:
- Chiropractic adjustments
- Soft tissue therapy
- Myofascial release
- Dry needling
- Rehabilitation exercises
- Postural advice
- Ergonomic recommendations
- Lifestyle and stress-management strategies
Many patients also report that improving sleep quality, hydration, stress levels, and movement habits significantly impacts the frequency of their headaches.
When Should You Seek Further Medical Attention?
While migraines are common, certain symptoms should never be ignored.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- A sudden, severe headache unlike anything you have experienced before
- Weakness or paralysis
- Loss of consciousness
- Persistent confusion
- Difficulty speaking
- Vision loss
- Fever associated with a headache
- Headaches following trauma
It is always important to rule out more serious underlying causes.
Final Thoughts
Migraines can have a major impact on quality of life, work, sleep, exercise, and mental wellbeing. Because migraines are complex, effective management often requires a multidisciplinary approach that addresses both neurological and musculoskeletal factors.
For many individuals, understanding their triggers, improving lifestyle habits, and addressing neck tension and postural dysfunction can make a meaningful difference.
As chiropractors, our role is not simply to treat pain, but to assess the body as a whole, identify contributing factors, and help patients move and function better.
If you regularly experience headaches or migraines, it may be worth exploring whether musculoskeletal tension, posture, stress, or neck dysfunction could be playing a role in your symptoms.
References
- Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS). The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3). Cephalalgia. 2018;38(1):1-211.
- World Health Organization. Headache disorders. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/headache-disorders
- American Migraine Foundation. Migraine Symptoms and Aura. Available from: https://americanmigrainefoundation.org
- Burch R, Rizzoli P, Loder E. The prevalence and impact of migraine and severe headache in the United States. Headache. 2018;58(4):496-505.
- Charles A. The pathophysiology of migraine: implications for clinical management. Lancet Neurology. 2018;17(2):174-182.
- Ashina M. Migraine. New England Journal of Medicine. 2020;383:1866-1876.
- Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Cuadrado ML, Arendt-Nielsen L, Pareja JA. Myofascial trigger points and sensitization: an updated pain model for tension-type headache. Cephalalgia. 2007;27(5):383-393.
- Chaibi A, Tuchin PJ, Russell MB. Manual therapies for migraine: a systematic review. Journal of Headache and Pain. 2011;12(2):127-133.
- Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2011;34(5):274-289.
- Mayo Clinic. Migraine. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201
Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or a replacement for assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.
