Do you frequently experience headaches after your workouts? If so, there is a good chance that your gym program is to blame. In this blog post, we will discuss the most common causes of headaches after working out and how you can avoid them. We will also provide some tips for creating a headache-free gym program.
The Link Between Exercise and Headaches
You may not realise it but there are actually a number of different reasons why exercising can give you a headache. Dehydration is the most obvious one. When you sweat, you lose fluids and electrolytes, which can lead to dehydration. If you don’t drink enough water during and after your workout, this can cause a headache.
Another potential cause of headaches after working out is changes in blood sugar levels. When you exercise, your body burns through energy (in the form of glucose) at a faster rate. If you don’t eat before or after your workout, this can cause your blood sugar levels to drop, which can lead to a headache.
However, more often than not, people are experiencing a tension type headache or a cervicogenic headache from exercising. Unfortunately, this often goes undiagnosed because they assume that it is to do with glucose levels or dehydration. As a result, people struggle to manage their workout headaches.
What is a Cervicogenic Headache?
A cervicogenic headache is a type of headache that is caused by pain in a structure of the neck and shoulders, not including muscles trigger points. It is characterised by pain that radiates from the neck into the head. The pain is often described as a dull, throbbing sensation. Cervicogenic headaches are often caused by poor posture, muscle tension, or joint dysfunction in the neck and shoulders.
How Does Your Gym Program Cause Cervicogenic Headaches?
There are a number of different ways in which your gym program can cause cervicogenic headaches. The most common way is by doing exercises that put strain on the neck and shoulders. These include overhead presses, bench presses, pull-ups, dips and many more.
Another way in which your gym program can cause cervicogenic headaches is by not stretching properly before or after your workouts. This can lead to muscle tension and joint stiffness in the neck and shoulders, which can trigger a headache.
Finally, if you are not using proper form when lifting weights, this can also put strain on the neck and shoulders and cause a headache.
How Can You Avoid Workout Headaches?
Stretch properly
A proper warm-up and warm down are key to avoiding headaches. Stretching will help you relieve tension in the neck and shoulders so you avoid headaches. It also reduces the chances of an injury.
Work muscles equally
Make sure to work all the muscles in your body equally. If you have tightness in your shoulders, for example, don’t just focus on exercises that work the chest and arms. Include some back and shoulder exercises in your routine as well to help balance things out. This prevents muscle tightness in specific areas like the neck.
Avoid overworking the neck and shoulders
As we mentioned earlier, exercises that put strain on the neck and shoulders can lead to headaches. To avoid this, focus on other muscle groups in your workouts and give your neck and shoulders a break.
If you are experiencing regular tension-type headaches after your gym sessions, you need some expert advice. Get in touch with Waterloo Chiropractic and we can help you find relief.