Head Pain While Weightlifting

A common question on weightlifting and back pain forums is: “Why do I get a sharp pain in my head when performing squats?” Intense headaches brought on by weightlifting and other high-impact exercises are often benign, but in rare cases can indicate a dangerous cause.

Exertional Headaches

Exertional headaches have a severe, sudden onset. Different sources disagree on the exact duration of these headaches, but they can last anywhere from several minutes to days. People who experience exertional headaches while weightlifting may also have them during sexual activity. The pain may be sharp at first and then become more of a throb.

An exertional headache is caused by an increase in cranial pressure. As the body exerts itself, cerebrospinal fluid is forced upward into the head. The brain floats in this fluid, and a sudden increase of fluid in the cranium causes pressure to increase. Pain can be felt as a result.

Cranial pressure can also be increased by the Valsalva technique, which dictates holding your breath while you lift a weight. This action increases abdominal pressure, giving support to your spine. It also increases cranial pressure and can result in a sudden, sharp headache.

If you experience sudden-onset, intense headaches when performing strenuous activities like squats, you likely have exertional headaches. Though typically harmless, these types of headaches can also indicate very serious health problems, like aneurysm, stroke, tumor and heart disease. It is important to see a doctor and have these life-threatening causes ruled out.

Your doctor may advise you to either cease the activity causing exertional headaches or take anti-inflammatory medications prior to performing it. Exhaling while pushing up on a squat can help reduce cranial pressure.

Cervicogenic Headaches

A cervicogenic headache is one whose source of pain lies in the neck, often in joints or muscles. This type of headache is a fairly new classification among the medical community. Patients with this type of headache tend to have joint dysfunction in the cervical spine, forward head, weak deep neck flexor muscles and tight muscles in the neck, upper back, shoulders and chest.

Weightlifters are at an increased risk for this type of headache, particularly those who perform squats that require the placement of a weight bar behind the neck. Improper form and muscle tensing in the neck can result in injury to the soft tissues of the neck as well as the joints of the spine, and postural dysfunction in the form of forward head can result.

Cervicogenic headaches may be on one or both sides of the head. They start in the neck or at the base of the head and work their way to the front of the head. The pain has a gradual onset and is described as a dull, constant ache. More details on cervicogenic headaches can be found at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3201065/.

Treating this type of headache involves addressing the causes in the neck. Trigger point therapy may help if tight knots in the neck muscles are causing the headache. Physical therapy to strengthen the deep neck flexors may be a part of treatment. Myofascial release may be used to restore length and flexibility to shortened muscles. Manual therapy to realign joints may be part of treatment as well.

Headaches while weightlifting could be benign, but they could also indicate a serious problem. Seek treatment for your headache so that you can continue your workout plan pain-free.



Source by Sean Burton



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