Tension Headaches: What They Are and How Dry Needling & Manual Therapy Can Relieve Them

drdisalvo
May 21
2 min read

What Is a Tension Headache?

A tension headache is the most common type of headache, often described as a dull, aching pressure around the head, behind the eyes, or across the forehead. Many people feel as if there's a tight band wrapped around their skull. Unlike migraines, tension headaches don’t typically come with nausea or vision changes—but they can still seriously impact your daily life.

Common Tension Headache Symptoms

Dull, aching head pain
Tightness or pressure across the forehead or scalp
Muscle tension in the neck and shoulders
Sensitivity to light or noise (in some cases)

These headaches can last for 30 minutes to several hours—and for some, they become a chronic, recurring issue.

What Causes Tension Headaches?

Tension headaches are often triggered by muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and upper back. Contributing factors include:

Poor posture (especially from desk work or tech use)
Stress and anxiety
Jaw clenching or teeth grinding
Lack of sleep

Tight muscles can form trigger points—knots that refer pain to other areas, including the head and face. These are a major contributor to tension headaches.

How Dry Needling Helps Relieve Tension Headaches

Dry needling is a therapeutic technique that uses a very thin, acupuncture-like needle inserted into muscle trigger points. At The Body Remedy, we use dry needling to treat tension headaches by:

✅ Releasing tight muscle fibers in the neck and shoulders

✅ Improving blood flow to reduce pain and inflammation

✅ Disrupting the pain cycle caused by chronic tension

This approach is highly effective for both acute headaches and chronic, recurring tension headaches.

Manual Therapy for Tension Headache Relief

In addition to dry needling, manual therapy techniques such as:

Soft tissue massage
Cupping therapy
Myofascial release

…can help reduce muscle tension, restore mobility, and promote better posture.

Manual therapy works by improving how your soft tissues (muscles and fascia) move and function, reducing the root causes of tension headaches—rather than just masking the symptoms.

Why Choose The Body Remedy for Headache Treatment?

At The Body Remedy in Andover, MA, we specialize in hands-on, science-backed treatments to help you get real relief from chronic headaches.

We create personalized treatment plans that combine dry needling, cupping, and manual therapy to address the specific causes of your pain.

Get Natural Headache Relief in Andover, MA

If you’re ready to break the cycle of tension headaches without relying on painkillers, we’re here to help. Book a session with Dr. Allie Di Salvo at The Body Remedy today.