Making Headway Against Exercise Headaches

Continued...

Try massaging these pressure points immediately after your ride to see if you can preempt the headaches. Better yet, see if you can get your husband to do it! Icing these pressure points and using moist heat on the surrounding muscles may also be effective. Try a few aspirin or 400 milligrams of ibuprofen after your ride.

Exertional headaches affect both men and women. The reason your husband doesn't get headaches may be that he has a stronger neck. Pound for pound, men have more muscle mass. When growing up, men are also exposed to sports like football, wrestling, and soccer, which have neck strengthening exercises as part of the routine. Through this, they may develop a stronger foundation for supporting their heads.

Begin by doing range of motion exercises to restore the normal flexibility of your neck. Then use resistance exercise to develop strength: Exert a steady, easy pressure with your neck and head against your hand in all ranges of motion, increase it, then slowly release. It is important not to overdo it and strain your neck, particularly when you are starting out. Sudden jerking of the neck can easily result in pulled muscles and ligaments. This can mean weeks or months of pain and discomfort.

See a sports medicine specialist or physical therapist to learn to do these exercises properly and to learn correct head posture.

Distance runners also get headaches resulting from muscular tension. Sometimes athletes develop individual parts of their body and forget their body is an organism made up of interdependent parts. Not many marathoners consider doing neck exercises, but distance running does put unusual stress on the neck and head, and often results in a "hunched" posture.

Exertional headache also develops in athletes who engage in non-aerobic activities such as weight lifting and sprinting. This may result from extreme changes in blood pressure and is sometimes associated with the Valsalva maneuver-bearing down to lift heavy weights. This increases intracranial pressure and, may be a related cause of exercise-related headache.

Dehydration and heat exhaustion can also cause headache and poor performance. By the sound of it, you are adequately hydrating, but make sure by forcing yourself to drink plenty of water before, during, and particularly after your workout, when you are sure to be low on fluids. If your headaches are severe, see a physician.

| 1 | 2 | Previous

About the authors: Carol L. Otis, M.D., is Chief Medical Advisor to the Sanex WTA and a UCLA student health physician. Roger Goldingay is a former professional soccer player. They are married and the co-authors of The Athletic Woman's Survival Guide.

Order Now!

Table of Contents

Foreword: Billie Jean King

Comments by Barb Harris
Editor in Chief,
Shape Magazine

General Health
Nutrition
Exercise
Common Medical Problems
Dental Health
Emergency!
Infectious Disease
Sexual Health
Emotional Well-Being
Eating Disorders
Alcohol & Other Drugs
Environmental Health
Prevention