Headaches aren’t just an adult problem. Kids, particularly middle schoolers and early high schoolers, are showing up at clinics with frequent – and sometimes daily – headaches. Many families are left wondering: Why is this happening? And more importantly, what can be done about it?
At Novera: Headache Center, we see the full range of headache cases – from occasional migraines to stubborn daily headaches that resist even the strongest medications. Fortunately, finding relief for your child often doesn’t require relying on prescriptions. Instead, understanding the underlying causes and treating the root issues – without medication – can lead to lasting improvement.
Why Are Kids Getting Headaches?
Several factors contribute to the rise of headaches in children:
1. Structural Vulnerabilities
Children’s bodies are still developing, and proportionally, a child’s head is much heavier compared to the size and strength of their neck and shoulders. This makes them more prone to neck stress and injury, even through everyday activities. Add a not-fully-developed musculoskeletal system, and the stage is set for tension that can eventually lead to chronic head pain.
Additionally, during growth spurts, kids experience rapid bone growth that outpaces the growth of muscles and tendons. This imbalance can cause muscle aches, joint pain, and increase the risk of tension-related headaches.
2. Lifestyle Extremes: Too Much or Too Little Movement
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High-Intensity Activities:
Activities like gymnastics, dance, trampoline jumping, and even repetitive sports training can put significant strain on a child’s neck and shoulders. Rapid movements, falls, and repetitive impacts — even without a noticeable injury — can accumulate stress in the body over time. -
Sedentary Lifestyles:
On the flip side, today’s kids also spend hours hunched over laptops, textbooks, phones, or video games. Poor posture — especially when studying in bed, on the couch, or without ergonomic setups — builds tension in the neck and shoulders slowly but persistently.
In many cases, kids bounce between intense athletic activity and long periods of sitting, missing out on the moderate, varied movement that the body thrives on.
This combination — extreme strain without appropriate recovery and too much stillness without the right kind of movement — creates the perfect storm for tension patterns that evolve into regular or daily headaches.
Recognizing the Risk Factors
Here are signs that your child might be at risk for developing chronic headaches:
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Frequent headaches or migraines, even if manageable at first
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Increased headache frequency after sports practices, competitions, or trampoline play
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Long hours spent doing homework, gaming, or using screens, especially with poor posture
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Complaints of neck, shoulder, or jaw discomfort
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Recent growth spurts accompanied by aches and pains
If left unaddressed, these headaches can progress into new daily persistent headaches, a frustrating condition where the headache never fully goes away.
A Different Approach to Relief
When families come to us at Novera: Headache Center, they’re often frustrated by medication after medication that doesn’t provide real, lasting relief. Here’s the good news: headache relief is possible without lifelong dependence on drugs.
Our approach focuses on:
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Addressing the root cause by correcting dysfunctions in the neck, jaw, and shoulders
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Reducing daily strain by coaching better posture, movement habits, and ergonomic setups
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Partnering with kids and parents to create manageable, practical changes to daily routines
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Empowering patients with tools and education so they can take control of their healing journey
Take the Next Step Toward a Headache-Free Life
If your child is struggling with headaches, you don’t have to settle for a future of medications and frustration. At Novera, we specialize in helping kids (and adults!) break free from a cycle of pain — naturally and effectively.
If you’re in Colorado Springs, Denver, or Parker, reach out and schedule a visit. Out of state? We also offer virtual coaching (learn more here) and the use of innovative tools like the SAM device to aid in recovery.
Together, we can help your child reclaim a vibrant, headache-free life — without fear and without dependence on medication.
