PT vs Medication for Migraines
Migraines affect millions of people worldwide and are far more than just “bad headaches.” They can bring on throbbing pain, nausea, sensitivity to light, and even vision changes—making it difficult to focus, work, or enjoy daily life. If you struggle with migraines, you’ve probably tried medication, but you may be wondering whether physical therapy (PT) could be a better solution—or if the two should work together.
How Medication Helps with Migraines
Medication is often the first tool people reach for during a migraine. Doctors typically prescribe two categories:
Acute medications (like pain relievers or triptans) are taken during an attack to ease pain and shorten the migraine episode.
Preventive medications (like beta-blockers, anticonvulsants, or CGRP blockers) are taken regularly to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.
The benefits: Medication usually works quickly. If you have a severe migraine, medicine can reduce the pain and help you get back on your feet faster.
The drawbacks: Medications don’t address the reasons migraines occur. They may also have side effects, and overuse can sometimes cause rebound headaches. For many people, this means medication alone isn’t enough for long-term management.
How Physical Therapy Supports Migraine Relief
Physical therapy takes a different approach: it looks at the body to find what may be triggering or worsening your migraines.
At Health Plus PT, our therapists often find that neck stiffness, poor posture, stress, and even jaw problems (TMJ dysfunction) can contribute to migraine pain. PT works to correct these issues and build lasting resilience.
Common PT Strategies for Migraines:
Manual therapy: Hands-on techniques to release tight muscles in the neck, shoulders, and jaw.
Posture correction: Teaching you how to align your body properly, reducing strain that can trigger headaches.
Therapeutic exercises: Gentle strengthening and stretching routines for the neck and upper back.
TMJ care: Targeted exercises and mobility work to ease jaw tension linked to migraines.
Relaxation training: Breathing and stress-reduction techniques to calm one of the biggest migraine triggers—stress.
The benefits: PT doesn’t just reduce migraine pain—it works to lower the frequency of attacks by addressing root causes. It empowers you with tools to manage your condition naturally and improve overall quality of life.
PT vs Medication: Which Should You Choose?
The answer isn’t always “one or the other.” Both have strengths:
Medication gives you fast relief during an attack.
PT gives you long-term control by targeting underlying triggers.
Many people find that a combined approach works best: medication for immediate pain relief, and physical therapy for long-term prevention. This way, you’re not only stopping migraines in the moment, but also reducing how often they occur in the future.
In Summary
