Many MyMigraineTeam members try a number of treatments to control their migraine, including different medications and lifestyle changes such as dietary adjustments. Some wonder if chiropractic care will help them find migraine relief.

“Consistent chiropractic care is something I haven’t tried yet, but I don’t know much about it,” one member noted.

Other members have been to chiropractors — some for years. “I went to a chiropractor for migraine attacks regularly when I was younger and had great results,” one member wrote.

Others didn’t have good experiences or have been advised against chiropractic treatments. “My spine doctor said not to see a chiropractor. I have a lot of back problems along with migraine attacks, and physical therapy or massage therapy have been the better options for me,” another member wrote.

Who benefits from a chiropractic adjustment, and is it worth trying? Keep reading to learn about what current research says about chiropractic care for migraine. Always talk to your doctor to find out if chiropractic care might be safe for you to try.

Can Chiropractors Treat Migraine?

The short answer: It depends on the trigger. For context, it’s helpful to review what migraine is.

Migraine is a painful neurologic condition that causes intense, sometimes severe, headaches. Research suggests that nerves, chemical signals, and blood vessels may play a role in migraine attacks. Currently, researchers are exploring how these factors may cause pain and if the immune system is somehow involved.

Migraine triggers are different for everyone, but the most common ones include:

• Weather
• Poor sleep
• Hormonal changes
• Physical or mental stress

Musculoskeletal issues such as chronic neck pain, stiff neck muscles, and jaw dysfunction — which chiropractors are known to treat — are not listed as common triggers in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Researchers agree there’s a link between neck pain and migraine, although they aren’t sure which (or if) one causes the other.

But musculoskeletal issues could affect how the body behaves. For example, neck pain could cause poor sleep, triggering migraine attacks. Chiropractors may be able to help if they can impact the trigger. A chiropractor who successfully treats neck pain could improve sleep quality by removing the trigger, which reduces migraine symptoms.

Treating neck muscle tension can also improve pain sensitivity, which could help prevent migraine attacks.

Many chiropractors may focus on the upper spine (just below the skull). This is because the trigeminal nerve connects to the first three levels of the spine and is believed to contribute to headaches. If the area is too sensitive to treat at first, chiropractors may treat neighboring body areas (like the upper back) and try other techniques until you’re ready.

What To Expect During a Chiropractor Visit

On your first visit, a chiropractor assesses your symptoms and suggests treatments to address any potential issues contributing to a condition. Some chiropractors provide stretches and exercises, soft-tissue therapy (similar to massage), and joint bracing or taping techniques.

Chiropractic care is most known for manual manipulation. These manipulations are also called chiropractic adjustments, and adjustments to the spine are called spinal manipulation.

During these adjustments, people are positioned on a table designed to help the chiropractor target the right area of the body. Then the chiropractor applies pressure to strategic points, which can sometimes produce sound (like cracking a knuckle) during bigger adjustments.

Current research suggests joint-cracking sounds aren’t harmful. They’re caused by cavitation, which medical experts have long believed is when a gas bubble “pops” out of a joint’s fluid.

Some research suggests other theories to explain the sound, such as ligaments strumming or the joint creating (rather than releasing) bubbles. One study says knuckle cracking isn’t shown to damage finger joints, but more research is needed to fully understand cavitations.

Some people feel relief after a chiropractic appointment, while others need a few weeks to respond or don’t respond at all. The number of sessions needed depends on the person and their symptoms.

Are Spinal Manipulations for Migraine Effective?

Quality research about spinal manipulation and migraine treatment is limited. Current research isn’t clear about whether spinal manipulation alone effectively treats migraine or other common types of headaches.

There is evidence suggesting that spinal manipulation is effective in treating neck mobility issues that can contribute to discomfort. Spinal manipulation is most effective for treating neck pain when combined with other treatments, like soft-tissue therapy or joint mobilization.

Joint mobilization applies pressure to the bones of a stiff or painful joint, but not to the point of “cracking” the joint.

One MyMigraineTeam member noticed the difference between manipulation-focused and combined chiropractic treatments. “I started a few years ago with a regular chiropractor, but I recently switched to one specializing in migraine. He’s working on my shoulder and neck issues in a totally different way and even suggests exercises and types of pillows. What a difference!” they wrote.

Safety Considerations

A little discomfort during a chiropractic adjustment is normal. People often feel mild soreness or tiredness after a visit, but it usually goes away within a day.

Some rare but serious complications can happen. These include injuries to nerves and blood vessels, including stroke. For this reason, chiropractic adjustments aren’t recommended for people with these symptoms or conditions:

• Structural instability of the neck
• Numbness or strength loss in an arm or leg
• Severe osteoporosis
• Cancer in the spine
• Aortic aneurysm

It is also important to mention people with fibromyalgia, who often also have migraine. In such cases, chiropractic care is contraindicated, as it can worsen the pain rather than relieve it.

Call your doctor if you have unusual or worsening symptoms, such as new, sharp pain or numbness, after a chiropractic appointment.

Other Headaches Associated With Neck Pain

Between 77 percent and 87 percent of people with migraine also have neck pain, but other common types of headache are also associated with neck pain. These include:

• Tension-type headache — Mild to moderate head pain, usually on both sides, associated with tight muscles in the neck and scalp, fatigue, or stress
• Cervicogenic headache — A headache caused by a musculoskeletal issue in the neck, like a strain or arthritis, that can cause one-sided head pain

Differentiating headache types is difficult. If you and your doctor are unsure if you’re experiencing migraine, track your symptoms as you go about your daily life. Notice where the pain is located, what the triggers could be, and how helpful treatments feel. These are important factors that can help your doctor understand which condition you have and how best to address it.

Other Migraine Management Options

Your doctor may recommend other preventive treatments for migraine to try alongside chiropractic care or as an alternative if chiropractic care isn’t for you.

Some research-backed treatment options include:

• Preventive medications — Drugs used on a regular basis to avoid a migraine attack
• Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors — A newer type of medication used to treat or prevent migraine by blocking proteins that make migraine worse
• Neuromodulation —- A treatment with a device that uses electrical currents, magnets, or temperature changes to affect brain activity and reduce migraine attacks
• Behavioral therapy — Relaxation techniques and cognitive behavioral therapy (a form of talk therapy) in combination with other treatments to prevent migraine and learn coping strategies
• Lifestyle changes — Shifts to diet or sleep habits (migraine-related triggers)

Multiple approaches could help at the same time. Your doctor may refer you to a neurologist (a specialist in the brain, spinal cord and nerves) or other collaborating medical specialists in sleep, nutrition, or hormone health. They can work together to identify the underlying cause of your migraine attacks, find long-term relief, and improve your quality of life.

Join the Conversation

On MyMigraineTeam, people share their experiences with migraine, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

What do you think about seeing a chiropractor for migraine relief? Let others know in the comments below.