Published by Josh on 26 Jul 2007 at 08:12 am
TENSION HEADACHES
Causes and Pathogenesis
- One of the most common forms of headaches
- Most common in adults and adolescence
- 2 or more times a week for several months it’s considered chronic
- Constriction of neck and scalp muscles
- Muscles involved: Temporalis, Occipitalfrontalis, SCM(sternocliedomastoid), Sub occipitals, Levator Scapula, Masator
- Muscular, tendinous, or ligamentous injury to the head or neck structures
- The ligaments in the neck may be most easily injured
- Muscle tension in the sub occipital triangle or the jaw flexors can cause headaches
- These are especially vulnerable to the effects of emotional stress
- central nervous system dysfunction
- Active Trigger Points in involved muscles
- Emotional Traumatic experiences
- Continuous/sustained contraction of head and neck muscles
- Inactive muscles causing myofascial restrictions
- Muscle Atrophy in head and neck muscles causing muscle imbalances
Tension type headaches are the most common forms of headaches. These headaches are bilateral with a pressing, nonpulsating feel, lasting from 30 minutes to 7 days. The historical theory has been that tension-type headaches are due to sustained contraction of cervical and pericranial muscles. However, electromyographic (EMG) studies don’t support a muscle contraction mechanism in tension-type headaches. Rather, more and more evidence exists implicating myofascial TrP pain as an etiologic source of pain in these headaches. These myofascial TrP however can be activated by a constant contraction and overuse of the head and neck muscles, in an abnormal position. These positions and activating factors differ between each muscle involved, but send referred pain to the areas that tension-type headaches present.
Affected muscles
- Affected muscles:
- Temporalis,
- Occipitalfrontalis,
- SCM(sternocliedomastoid),
- Sub occipitals,
- Splenius Capitis and cervicis
- Levator Scapula,
- Masator
For More information about muscles, their attachments and how to treat tension headaches you can get video lessons and deeper anatomy knowledge on muscles etc. at itseasytomassage.com
Josh the Masseur
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Sueblimely on 26 Jul 2007 at 10:39 am #
Hi
I wondered if you knew of any tension problems that cause a pain behind the eyes? My partner suffers from a kind of piercing pain and the docs cannot find out why. He thinks it could be sinus problems or eye strain but is not sure.
Josh on 27 Jul 2007 at 12:19 am #
Pain Behind the eyes, as you described as “piercing pain” could be a number of things. I can tell you that you can cancel out sinus, because sinus pain is usually referred to as a inner pressure like pain like there is an inside force pushing out creating a pressure in the ears and deep inside around the eyes, cheek bones and nose, this type of pain is increased with taping over these areas with your finger tips, meaning it would be sinus related. It could possibly be eye strain, eye stains generally cause headaches and pulsating pain in the back of the eyes, sides and back of the scalp, which can also refer down the back of the neck. Piercing pains can often be joint related, muscle or nerve related, so in this case it seems more nerve related, therefore possibly eye strain. Does he have any seeing difficulties?? and has he seen an Optometrist??
Find out when it gets worse and what relieves it and you’ll discover more of an idea of why its happening and what it could be stemming from.
If it was muscular related, it would most likely be active “trigger points” in the SCM (sternocliedomastoid) muscles, (the big muscles on either side of the front of the neck) which sends referral pain patterns around the eyes, temples, and forehead.