What’s causing that headache?

Editor's note: Cody Scharf is the owner of Thrive Spine and Sport, a chiropractic and soft tissue clinic in Cedar Rapids focusing on sport and overuse injuries. Scharf is a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic and certified by Integrative Diagnosis for diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue injuries.

By Cody Scharf, community contributor

It has been estimated that upward of 50 percent of the population will have suffered a headache in the past year.

For some, that number may seem low. Of that 50 percent, just less than 5 percent of the general population report chronic headaches.

Unlike most musculoskeletal conditions, there can be a multitude of causes behind your headaches. Some headaches may be caused by hormones or food sensitivities. Other may be triggered by dehydration or the weather.

But for most headaches, the root cause often comes from dysfunction in neck muscles.

At the base of the skull there is a group of small muscles, called the suboccipitals. These very tiny muscles are responsible for movement of the skull and the first two vertebrae in the neck. With the modern day lifestyle these muscles are under constant stress and strain. Sitting at a computer for an extended time, grinding your teeth, poor posture and even previous injuries or accidents to the neck (think whiplash) can damage these tiny muscles, altering joint motion and function.

The most common result of overuse and trauma in the muscles is adhesion.

Adhesion may be a new term for you. Adhesion is one of the most common causes of pain, weakness and inflammation in the body. Adhesion is a buildup of fibrotic, or 'scar-like” tissue, on muscles or around nerves. When present, it continues to alter load, posture and increase strain on the neck. If adhesion is present, it can be a root cause of your headaches.

So how can you know if you have adhesion present? Fortunately, there is a very easy test that you can do at home. Start by standing flat against a wall - heels, butt, shoulder blades and the back of the head should be touching the wall. If you cannot get your head to touch the back of the wall, the test already is positive and the presence of adhesion is most likely. If you are able to get the back of the head against the wall tilt your head back slightly until the jaw is parallel to the floor. Slowly try to tuck the chin to your neck without the back of the head leaving the wall. Any pain, or tension in the base of the neck or lower, is a positive test. Adhesion is the most likely cause of the tension and pain.

Continue the test by trying to touch the chin to the top of your chest. If you find this painful, tight or are unable to reach your chest - you guessed it - adhesion is the most likely cause of pain.

In order to reduce or eliminate your headaches, these tests must be cleared. In order to pass these tests, adhesion must be eliminated. Manual therapy to the affected tissues is the most effective and fastest way to relief.

Failure to fix adhesion is a failure to fix your headache.

l For more information, email Scharf at cody.scharf@gmail.com or visit www.thrivespineandsport.com