| There are many causes for migraine headaches, | | | | and being out of balance. If you have some |
| but the most common cause is your muscles. | | | | muscles that are weak, and others that are too |
| Honest! | | | | tight ("out of balance,") they don't support your |
| Often the muscles on the tops of your shoulders, | | | | head where it should be. They allow muscle strain |
| the front and back of your neck, and your jaw | | | | and trigger points to start your migraines. |
| get tight. They get tight because we are out of | | | | By starting an exercise program which is designed |
| balance. Our muscles get out of balance. This can | | | | to get your head back over your shoulders, |
| be caused by our furniture, car seats, and work | | | | where it belongs, you can begin to get rid of your |
| positions. | | | | headaches. |
| Sometimes muscle tightness is caused by a "bad" | | | | This exercise program would strengthen all of the |
| habit we've developed, like when we stand a | | | | muscles of the back of your body. |
| certain way to hide parts of our bodies. | | | | All of the muscles from the back of your thighs |
| If we can figure out what the cause if for the | | | | to the back of your neck are probably weak and |
| tight muscles that cause our migraines, we can | | | | need to become stronger. When they are |
| eliminate it. | | | | stronger, they will help hold your heavy head over |
| So, where does exercise come in? | | | | your shoulders. And, that's where your head |
| The muscles that cause or "trigger" our head pain | | | | belongs. Over your shoulders, not in front of |
| or migraine headaches are "out of balance." If we | | | | them. |
| get our muscles back into balance, they will stop | | | | As an added bonus, not only will you have fewer |
| causing our migraines. | | | | migraines, you will feel better all over. When we |
| That's where exercise comes in. | | | | are upright, straight and strong, with good |
| Years ago, I remember reading an article in a | | | | posture, there is less strain on our muscles so we |
| health magazine that said some people are able to | | | | have less pain all over. |
| actually exercise their migraines away. Some | | | | Here's one more thing to consider about exercise |
| people do aerobic exercise, like fast walking or | | | | and migraine relief. |
| running or jogging in place, and their migraine | | | | One out of ten of us has a short leg. When we |
| headaches go away. | | | | have a short leg of 1/8" or more, it causes a |
| It might be worth a try, but it never worked for | | | | rotation in our neck muscles near our head. |
| me. | | | | This rotational pulling causes migraines. Not for all |
| I mean, come on. Can you imagine jogging when | | | | of us "short-leggers," but for a lot of us. |
| your head hurts just being still? | | | | If you notice that one pant leg always needs to |
| Recently, I read a medical article about migraines | | | | be hemmed, or you sense that you are twisted |
| and the researcher-doctor who wrote the article | | | | or rotated, get checked out. It's very easy to |
| said he gets migraine relief from aerobic exercise. | | | | correct a short leg by getting a special lift for the |
| So, that could be. Or, it could be that he has | | | | shoe of your short leg. A well-trained |
| muscular tension-type headaches rather than | | | | neuromuscular massage therapist can help |
| migraines. Anyway, it might be worth a try. | | | | straighten you out, too. |
| Here's another thing about exercise and migraines | | | | |