Virginia Physical Therapy Ebook Continuing Education

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Trigger Point Therapy for Headaches, Migraines, and TMJD: Summary

Pathophysiology • Nerve pathway hypersensitivity • Cranial blood dilation with subsequent edema ○ Can be due to: Low O2 level, decreased in nutrients, increase body temperature LEARNING TIP! Cortical spreading Depression: increased brain activity typically beginning in the back of the head and spreading towards the front of the

INTRODUCTION

Headache (HA) Definitions • Umbrella term with various etiologies • Examples of Primary HA: ○ Frontal HA

○ Occipital HA ○ Temporal HA ○ Stress HA ○ Sleep Deprivation HA • Examples of Secondary HA

○ Temporal Mandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD) ○ Anxiety (secondary HA) ○ Covid-19

head, towards the front of the head, followed by depressed brain activity.

Table 1: Conditions Conditions

Signs and Symptoms • Soft tissue

Accommodations and Considerations Accommodations: • Recognize contributing factors:

Definition

Treatment

Tension HA • Frequent or infrequent • Acute or chronic • Often

• NSAIDS • Beta-blockers • Anti- depressants • Botulinum

injury (trauma, injury to shoulders, head, neck)

environmental, chemical, and

• Tight or

bilaterally & non-focused • Pain described as a band around the head that is deep, dull ache

Toxin Injections

hypertrophic muscles

social and emotional Considerations: ○ Fever

○ Confusion ○ Numbness ○ Acute episodes

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