Can a Chiropractor Help with Migraine?

The above is the headline of an article written by Mary West, and medically reviewed by Dominique Fontaine, BSN, RN, HNB-BC, HWNC-BC, that was published in September of 2021. What is unusual about this positive on chiropractic article is that it appeared in Medical News Today, a publication that requires a medical review for all articles before publication.

The article begins by suggesting that there is limited research on chiropractic for migraine headaches, but the research that the author could find showed positive results under chiropractic care. In fact, if you include case studies published in the scientific chiropractic journals, it is easy to find dozens of studies documenting the effectiveness of chiropractic for patients with migraine headaches.

The article correctly points out that many people who come to chiropractors with migraine often sought out chiropractic for other related health issues. "People may seek a chiropractor for migraine because they often  have associated symptoms, such as neck pain and stiffness, which chiropractors commonly treat."

The Migraine Research Foundation lists a number of interesting facts about migraine on their website. These include:

• Migraine is the 3rd most prevalent illness in the world.
• Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. households includes someone with migraine.
• 18% of American women, 6% of men, and 10% of children experience migraines.
• Migraine is most common between the ages of 18 and 44.
• Migraine is the 6th most disabling illness in the world.
• Every 10 seconds, someone in the U.S. goes to the emergency room complaining of head pain
• More than 90% of sufferers are unable to work or function normally during their migraine.

The article goes on to explain why people choose chiropractic for migraines by noting that medically, "Migraine has no cure, and many medications that doctors prescribe for migraine come with significant side effects. For this reason, individuals often opt for alternative or complementary therapies, such as chiropractic."

Many chiropractors will tell you that they have cared for a large number of patients suffering with migraine. The article highlights this point by citing a study on chiropractors caring for migraine patients. "A 2017 survey questioned 1,869 chiropractors to determine the prevalence of migraine treatment and management. The results showed 53% had a caseload that was high in individuals with migraine headaches."

In the article's conclusion, the author probably states the most obvious reason that many migraine sufferers seek chiropractic care. "People often consult a chiropractor to treat migraine because they get relief from the condition but do not experience the side effects they may get from medication."