Which therapies are typically included in the management of tension headaches?

• A. OTC painkillers only
• B. Nutrition counseling only
• C. Stretching; Heat; Manual therapy; Cervical spine adjustments; OTC and prescription meds; Diet and exercise changes; Monitoring caffeine and water and stress
• D. Surgical intervention

Answer: (C)

Managing tension headaches typically requires a multimodal approach that targets muscle tension, neck mechanics, and daily habits. The best answer brings together stretching and heat to loosen tight muscles, manual therapy and cervical spine adjustments to improve neck alignment and reduce referred pain, along with medications (OTC and potentially prescription) for acute relief, plus lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, proper hydration, and monitoring caffeine and stress to prevent recurrences. This combination reflects how tension headaches arise from a mix of muscular tension, posture issues, and trigger factors, so addressing all these angles yields the most effective management. Relying only on OTC painkillers misses the neck-muscle and preventive aspects, nutrition counseling alone doesn’t provide pain relief or muscle-lengthening work, and surgical intervention is not a standard treatment for tension headaches.