The American Chiropractic Association cited evidence from 8 studies which supported the use of spinal manipulation/adjustment for those patients who suffer from cervicogenic headaches; one of the most common forms of headache.

One study was published earlier this year in February, and was featured in the letter from the ACA to United Healthcare (an Insurance Company); A Spine Journal study found that in patients suffering from cervicogenic headache (tension and neck sourced headache), spinal manipulation cuts the number of symptomatic days in half:

“256 adults with chronic cervicogenic headache were randomized to four dose levels of chiropractic SMT: 0, 6, 12, or 18 sessions. Participants were treated three times per week for 6 weeks and received a focused light-massage control at sessions when SMT was not assigned. A linear dose-response was observed for all follow-ups, a reduction of approximately 1 CGH day/month for each additional 6 SMT visits. Cervicogenic headache days/month were reduced from about 16 to 8 for the highest and most effective dose of 18 SMT visits. Cervicogenic headache intensity showed no important improvement nor differed by dose.”

Incidentally, SMT proved to be more effective than massage for these headaches.

What about Migraine type headaches? A recent Australian study found that 72 percent of migraine sufferers in a clinical trial experienced either “substantial” or “noticeable” improvement after a period of chiropractic treatment.