What Is The Occipital Lift Adjustment & What Are The Benefits?

There are many different types of headaches ranging from tension headaches to sinus headaches to migraines. In addition to the annoying pain they cause, each of these headaches also has upper cervical muscular tension in common. The cervical spine is the area of the spine that runs from the base of the skull to the shoulders and tension in this area can cause a lot of pain and discomfort in the head, neck, and shoulders. 

Upper cervical muscle tension can cause pain by restricting the vertebra in the neck and causing inflammation and swelling in the joints of the upper cervical spine and surrounding muscular tissue. It can also create irritation in the nerves that connect to the head and upper neck region which leads to a variety of headaches as well as neck pain.

We see lots of patients that are suffering from occipital headaches. Occipital headaches are characterized by pain around the occipital bone which is located at the base of the skull at the back of the head. These headaches are often caused by some type of trauma to the area. That trauma could be anything from a concussion, whiplash, or a sports injury. This trauma can lead to the occipital nerves that originate in the upper cervical spine becoming compressed, inflamed, or trapped/pinched by the muscles they pass through.

The pain associated with an occipital headache typically begins in the upper neck and radiates to the back, top, front, and sides of the head and often into the area directly behind the eyes. This kind of pain can be very disruptive to your daily life. Because occipital headaches cause radiating pain and pain behind the eyes, they’re often mistaken for migraine headaches.

Occipital headaches, like many other types of headaches, are more common in women but men do get them as well. One of the most frustrating things about occipital headaches is they typically don’t respond well to pain killers the way other headaches do. You may not think of seeing a chiropractor for headache pain, but chiropractic care has been shown to be very effective for treating and preventing future headaches.

As with many types of headaches, occipital headaches tend to occur more often in women, and chiropractic care has been shown to be effective in reducing their occurrence. In this study conducted on children that have recurring headaches, chiropractic spinal manipulation resulted in significantly fewer days with headaches (a 20% decrease). When we treat a patient suffering from an occipital headache, they feel instant relief.

Occipital Lift Adjustment Benefits

The occipital lift adjustment is the best adjustment for occipital headaches and upper cervical muscle tension. John had pressure in his head and ringing in his ears and instantly felt relief after his occipital lift adjustment. That quick relief is one of the biggest benefits of this kind of adjustment. In order to do an occipital lift adjustment, we ask John which side he can move his head the furthest. We start by lifting this side and then repeat with John turning his head to the other side.

The occipital lift adjustment is an amazing tool we have to help patients with occipital headaches and upper cervical muscle tension but it’s not the only one. We pair the occipital lift adjustment with a variety of other adjustment techniques and treatments to give our patients quick pain relief.  

Most people don’t think to visit a chiropractor when they’re suffering from intense headaches but we are able to provide relief for a wide range of headache types. Whether you’re suffering from occipital headaches like John, sinus headaches and pain, tension headaches, or migraines, a chiropractor can help you get fast relief from the pain you’re dealing with so you can feel better faster.

Do you have headaches accompanied by pain in the back of the head and neck? Schedule your appointment with one of our chiropractors by clicking here or calling (410) 296-7700. We can’t wait to help you feel better faster!