Headaches

July 28, 2026

Chiropractic Management of Headaches: A Retrospective Case-Series of 105 Patients in a Single Clinic

Background: Headaches are a prevalent and debilitating condition. Chiropractic care is a common non-pharmacological approach for managing various headache types, particularly those with a suspected musculoskeletal or cervical spine component. This study aims to report outcomes for a cohort of patients with headaches undergoing chiropractic care. Methods: A retrospective case-series was conducted by reviewing patient files at a single chiropractic clinic in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Data from 105 adult patients presenting with a chief complaint of headache were included. The primary outcome measure was the change in self-reported pain, typically on a 0-10 scale, from initial presentation to final assessment. Results: The analysis of 105 patient cases demonstrated a mean and median self-reported pain reduction of 88%. Individual case data illustrates these results across different headache presentations, with significant pain reduction often achieved within 4 to 12 weeks of care. Conclusion: The findings from this retrospective case-series at a single clinic suggest a substantial reduction in headache pain for patients receiving chiropractic care. These results are encouraging, but due to the study's limitations, including the lack of a control group, further rigorous research such as randomized controlled trials is necessary to establish causality and generalizability.

July 28, 2026

Chiropractic Management of Headaches: A Retrospective Case Series from a Private Practice

Background: Headaches, including migraines and tension-type, are a common and debilitating condition. Many cases have a cervicogenic component, suggesting that manual therapies targeting the cervical spine may be beneficial. This article reviews patient outcomes following chiropractic care. Methods: A retrospective case series was conducted on 16 patients treated for headaches at Back To Health Chiropractic in Zeeland, MI. Data were extracted from patient files, including primary complaint, baseline and post-treatment status. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of self-reported pain reduction. Interventions included chiropractic adjustments, corrective exercises, and other modalities such as laser therapy and SoftWave therapy. Results: The cohort of 16 patients reported a mean pain reduction of 86% (median 89%). Patients presented with conditions described as recurring migraines, chronic daily headaches, and frequent tension headaches. Functionally, many patients reported a return to normal activities and a significant decrease in headache frequency and intensity. Conclusion: The findings from this retrospective case series suggest that a multimodal chiropractic treatment approach may be effective in reducing pain and improving function for patients with various headache types. The results are promising, but due to the study's limitations, further research with controlled designs is warranted.