Releasing Tension and Trigger Points: Techniques like trigger point therapy focus on deactivating tight, painful knots or myofascial trigger points in the neck and upper back areas. Studies, including randomized controlled trials, have shown that therapeutic massage focusing on these areas can significantly reduce migraine frequency and headache intensity. The pressure applied can also increase the pressure pain threshold, making the patient less sensitive to pain.

Improving Blood Flow and Reducing Stress: Stress is a major trigger. Massage, particularly Swedish massage and deep tissue work, helps relieve stress by lowering the stress hormone cortisol and promoting a state of deep relaxation. This improved circulation and calm state can help relieve migraine pain and other symptoms, better sleep quality, another common migraine trigger.

Targeting Pressure Points: Similar to acupuncture, a massage for migraine often uses specific pressure points on the head, neck, and sometimes the hands (like the web of tissue between the thumb and pointer finger) or feet (foot reflexology). Applying gentle pressure to points near the eyebrow bone or the base of the skull, for instance, to help relieve tension headaches and soothe migraine pain.

A tailored massage treatment plan for migraine sufferers should be discussed with a specialist or a certified massage therapist.

Techniques that Work: Modalities often used include moderate-pressure therapeutic massage, trigger point massage, and even gentler forms like cold stone therapy (applying chilled stones to the head/neck) or aromatherapy massage treatment.

Focus Areas: The primary focus is typically the cervical spine, neck muscles, and upper back. This targeted work on the cervical and suboccipital muscles is crucial because tension here often precedes or intensifies a migraine.

Frequency and Prevention: Consistent, regular therapeutic massage can be a powerful tool for migraine prevention. One clinical journal reported that a massage group experienced fewer attacks and better sleep quality than a control group, suggesting regular sessions help you stay pain-free longer.

You don’t always need a professional to get temporary relief. Learning a few self-massage techniques is an excellent healthy lifestyle habit to add to your routine:

Temple Rub: Use your index finger and middle finger to apply light, circular pressure to your temples.

Neck Release: Use your fingertips to knead the muscles at the base of your skull and along your neck, working from the hairline down toward your shoulders. Focus on areas of maximum tension.

While massage is a fantastic complementary therapy, remember to integrate it with other aspects of behavioral medicine and a generally healthy lifestyle. Consult with your healthcare provider to ensure the massage fits into your overall approach to managing chronic migraines and recurrent tension-type headaches.

According to Dawn Buse, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Director of Behavioral Medicine at the Montefiore Headache Center (New York, USA). If firm scientific data is lacking... Patients still find value in massage therapy. I prefer gentle myofascial trigger point massage, noting that anything too rough or hard is often too much to bear and can trigger a migraine attack."

This insight highlights a key nuance: while large-scale, placebo-controlled clinical trials on massage for migraine are still few, real-world experience and smaller studies show therapeutic benefit, particularly when the approach is gentle and focused on areas like myofascial trigger points. The expert also wisely cautions against deep, intense pressure, which can sometimes backfire during a sensitive migraine attack.