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If you suffer from chronic headaches or migraines in the Pasadena or South Pasadena area, you know how debilitating they can be. At Grace Integrative Wellness Center, Dr. Kristine Troesch DC, CMT offers a drug-free, integrative approach to headache and migraine treatment that addresses the root structural and neurological causes — not just the symptoms.
As both a Doctor of Chiropractic and Licensed Massage Therapist, Dr. Kristine is uniquely positioned to treat the muscular, spinal, and nervous system contributors to recurring headaches in one coordinated care session.
Most chronic headaches and migraines are not random events — they are driven by underlying patterns in your spine, muscles, and nervous system. Common structural contributors include:
When these structures are addressed together, many patients experience a meaningful reduction in headache frequency, intensity, and duration — without relying solely on medication.
Cervicogenic headaches originate from dysfunction in the cervical spine and surrounding soft tissues. Pain typically radiates from the neck up into the head, often on one side. These headaches respond particularly well to chiropractic spinal manipulation and targeted soft tissue therapy.
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Migraines are complex neurological events often accompanied by nausea, light sensitivity, and throbbing pain. Research supports the use of spinal manipulation and manual therapy as part of a multimodal migraine management plan. Our integrative approach combines chiropractic adjustments with corrective bodywork to reduce musculoskeletal triggers that can initiate or intensify migraine attacks.
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Tension headaches typically present as a band-like pressure around the head. They are closely associated with muscle tightness in the neck, shoulders, and upper back. Corrective bodywork and chiropractic care address the myofascial sources of tension that drive these headaches.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENTPrecise chiropractic adjustments to the cervical and thoracic spine restore proper joint mechanics, reduce nerve irritation, and improve the body's ability to regulate pain signals. Spinal manipulation is one of the most researched non-pharmacological interventions for migraine and cervicogenic headache.
Dr. Kristine applies targeted soft tissue techniques to release trigger points in the suboccipital muscles, upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid (SCM), and splenius capitis — all of which are common pain generators in headache patients. Research has shown that massage therapy can reduce migraine pain intensity by up to 71% and decrease migraine frequency by approximately 34%.
Chronic headaches are often perpetuated by forward head posture and a nervous system stuck in a stress response. Our integrated sessions include postural reassessment and nervous system downregulation techniques to reduce whole-body sensitization.
At your first visit, Dr. Kristine will conduct a thorough assessment of your headache history, cervical spine mobility, posture, and muscle tension patterns. A personalized care plan will be developed — often combining our Integrated Alignment Session (chiropractic + corrective bodywork) for the fastest results.
Most patients notice a meaningful improvement within 4–6 visits. We serve patients from Pasadena, South Pasadena, Arcadia, Alhambra, San Marino, Monrovia, and surrounding communities.
Chaibi, A., & Russell, M.B. (2014). Manual therapies for primary chronic headaches: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Headache and Pain, 15(1), 67. https://doi.org/10.1186/1129-2377-15-67
Bryans, R., et al. (2011). Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 34(5), 274–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2011.04.008
Fernandez-de-Las-Penas, C., et al. (2006). Manual therapies in migraine: a systematic review. Journal of Headache and Pain, 7(3), 137–145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10194-006-0306-4
Lawler, S.P., & Cameron, L.D. (2006). A randomized, controlled trial of massage therapy as a treatment for migraine. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 32(1), 50–59. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm3201_6
Daniluk, B., et al. (2025). Is chiropractic spinal manipulation effective for the treatment of cervicogenic, tension-type, or migraine headaches? A systematic review. Journal of Integrative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joim.2025.01.007
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507 Mission St,
South Pasadena, CA 91030
*Inside Mission Chiroworks