Most people at one time or another have experienced a headache. While for some, the pain will pass with no effort at all or with a pain reliever, for other's it can be a daily struggle.

Headaches are one of the most common of all physical complaints and can be one of the most frustrating to manage. Tension-type headaches are the most common types of headaches in adults. They may be the result of a neck or jaw problem, poor posture, fatigue or stress.

A tension-type headache typically begins at the back of the head and spreads to the top of the head and the eyes. You might feel an increase in facial pain along the cheeks near the jaw bone. These headaches can worsen with specific positions - such as sitting at a desk - and may ease with rest.

What can help? Often physical therapy can. Your therapist would start by determining what may be the underlying cause of the headache. If a headache is resulting from tension, incorrect posture, or a previous injury your therapist will develop a personalized program to help eliminate your pain. Your physical therapist will work with you to correct the problems that are causing your pain and will help you learn to prevent headaches through simple changes in your posture and lifestyle:

• Improve neck mobility. Using a specialized technique called manual therapy to increase movement, relieve pain and to stretch the muscles of the back of the neck.

• Improve your strength. Teaching you exercises to increase the strength of the muscles that help stabilize your upper back and neck to improve your posture and endurance and make it easier for you to sit or stand for longer periods of time without discomfort.

• Improve your posture. Teach you ways to improve your posture. Whether it is simply pushing your chest out or pulling your shoulder blades backward and together, slight modifications to everyday living can make a vast improvement in posture.

It's time to stop your pain. Call one of Pinnacle Physical Therapy's two convenient locations today to schedule your initial evaluation! Post Falls (208) 777-4242 or Coeur d'Alene (208) 665-2000.