Chronic muscle tension can be due to bad posture, whether sitting, standing or walking in ways that put unnecessary stress on the body. Work habits such as cradling a telephone between the shoulder and ear or hunching or jutting the head forward over a computer keyboard are common causes of muscle tension.
We are often unaware of how we contract these muscles because the actions become part of our habits. Continued muscle tension can lead to ongoing irritation of the nerves that lead to the head, and to chronic headache. Proper body mechanics offer new movement options to replace the poor postures. Physical therapy, aerobic exercise, and biofeedback can have strong headache-relieving effects. These are all good preventative measures that our knowledgeable Coastal Ortho physical therapy team can show you. Talk to your physician about trying physical therapy as a conservative alternative.