Head Massage

Head massage at Athlete’s Choice Massage is a focused treatment for people dealing with tension headaches, migraines and stress-related tension. Your RMT works the muscles that drive the pain, through the neck, the base of the skull, the scalp and the jaw, with some treatment to the shoulders and upper back as needed. It is available at all four Edmonton and Sherwood Park clinics in 45 and 60 minute appointments.

This is a treatment, not a head spa. There is no hot oil, no stones and no scalp wash. If headaches are the reason you are looking, this is built for you.

Who is a head massage for?

People whose headaches keep coming back and who have tried pushing through them. That includes desk workers whose neck locks up by mid-afternoon, tradespeople carrying tension in their shoulders, and anyone who clenches their jaw when stressed. It also suits migraine sufferers who want to reduce the muscular tension that sits underneath their attacks.

The most common reasons clients book:

• Tension headaches that start at the base of the skull or across the forehead
• Migraines, between attacks, to reduce neck and shoulder tension
• Jaw clenching and stress-related tightness through the face and temples
• Neck and shoulder tension from screens, driving or physical work
• A tight scalp that feels sore to the touch

Why does a head massage help with headaches?

Because tension-type headaches are largely a muscle problem. The Cleveland Clinic describes them as pain from tightened muscles in the head, neck and scalp, and the World Health Organization ranks tension-type headache among the most common headache disorders worldwide. The muscles involved, the suboccipitals, upper trapezius, temporalis and masseter, are all within reach of a hands-on treatment.

The research is honest about what to expect. A placebo-controlled trial of trigger-point-focused head and neck massage found headache frequency dropped over six weeks, and participants reported a greater reduction in headache pain than with placebo, with measurable improvements in muscle tenderness that only the massage group showed. It did not find massage beat placebo on frequency alone, which is a reminder that headaches are complex. What massage does reliably is take the muscular load out of the picture.

The NHS lists stress among the common causes of tension headaches and names massage as one of the things you can do to ease them. For migraines the picture is different: the NHS migraine guidance is clear that migraine cannot be cured, and lists a stiff neck among the early warning symptoms. That neck tension is what a head massage works on, between attacks, so treatment fits alongside the plan you have with your doctor rather than replacing it.

What happens during a head massage appointment?

You start with an assessment, then get a treatment plan built around your headache pattern.

Your RMT will ask about where the pain sits, how often it shows up, what sets it off, and anything relevant in your health history. They will check range of motion through the neck and feel for tension and trigger points through the shoulders, neck, scalp and jaw. Together you set the goal for the session.

Treatment then focuses on the tissue that is driving your symptoms. Expect a combination of:

• Trigger point release through the upper trapezius and suboccipitals
• Sustained pressure and myofascial work at the base of the skull
• Scalp massage to release the tight band that wraps the head
• Jaw and temple work for clenching and face tension
• Treatment to the shoulders and upper back where the tension originates

You will usually lie face up for most of the session, and you may not need to fully undress. Wear comfortable clothing. If your therapist has time left after the head and neck, they will treat other areas of concern or finish with general therapeutic work.

Before you leave, you get home care that matches your pattern: neck and shoulder stretches, posture changes at your desk, hydration and sleep notes, and jaw release if clenching is part of it. Ask about timing for your next visit. Headaches that have been building for months rarely resolve in one session, and a short plan gets better results than one-off appointments.

How is this different from Indian head massage or a head spa?

It shares the same techniques as Indian head massage, but the purpose is clinical. Indian head massage and Japanese head spas are relaxation services, often with oils, scalp treatments and a spa setting. A therapeutic head massage at Athlete’s Choice is aimed at headache and tension relief, delivered by an RMT in a clinic, and billed as massage therapy. Our clinics are busy, working spaces, so if a quiet spa atmosphere is what you are after, this is not the right fit.

If your headaches come with jaw pain or clicking, look at TMJ massage as well. If neck and shoulder pain is the bigger issue, a full therapeutic massage may serve you better.

Book a head massage in Edmonton & Sherwood Park

Head massage is available at all four Athlete’s Choice Massage clinics: West Edmonton, Downtown Edmonton, South Edmonton and Sherwood Park. Choose a 45 or 60 minute appointment under Therapeutic Massage when you book. Book online or call 780-433-0550.

For more on how we treat headaches, see massage for headaches and migraines in Edmonton.