Exertion Headache

[Wes Wexner]

Have you or any of your athletes ever experienced this?

Was doing some assisted reps beyond failure on the hack and wasn’t breathing enough. Felt a huge rush of blood to the head followed by a massive headache as soon as the set ended. The last few sessions I haven’t been able to lift with any amount of intensity because the headaches are recurring

Any advice/remedies or anecdotes on how long to return to normal would awesome. Thank you!

[Joe]

[Wes Wexner]

Thanks Joe, super helpful and will be mindful of those points going forward – all make complete sense

[Adam Hollis]

I have only just experienced this for the first time last week. And on the Hack squat also. Fuck it was excruciatingly painfull? I haven’t been the same for the past few days. It’s even re-occurred when not in the gym. Wondering if they continued for you Wes?

[Simo Matikainen]

I have got it 3-4 times on leg presses. Propably going too far to failure not being able to breath properly. I think its mostly just because doing leg press is very high pressure exercise. They always went away after rest, you shouldnt train in few days at all, most heavy exercises triggered the headache again. You will be 100% in a week atleast.

[Psyche]

I had this and it was on the Hack squat also. Take a look at this video. It helped me and Kelly Starrett is the MAN.

[Adam Hollis]

Psyche wrote:

I had this and it was on the Hack squat also. Take a look at this video. It helped me and Kelly Starrett is the MAN.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf3TPLt5mkY

Thanks Psyche I checked out that video, had some good exercises to try! As you research them, there is alot of factors, I got my blood pressure checked and it was high, also got told to cut out Creatine for a while as one of its side effects is high blood pressure. Also have put it down to a lack of mobility/tightness around my neck. Hoping it doesn’t last too long, cos they fucking suck!

[Simo Matikainen]

Adam Hollis wrote:

Thanks Psyche I checked out that video, had some good exercises to try! As you research them, there is alot of factors, I got my blood pressure checked and it was high, also got told to cut out Creatine for a while as one of its side effects is high blood pressure. Also have put it down to a lack of mobility/tightness around my neck. Hoping it doesn’t last too long, cos they fucking suck!

Creatine can cause high blood pressure? Didnt know that..

[AlexaMay]

I’m going to comment only from my own personal experience, but it is solely from my own personal experience and I am no specialist, or doctor, my migraines after my intense workouts signaled something going on for me medically. I don’t want to fear monger and what happened to me was incredibly rare, but maybe go get checked out, bloods, blood pressure, etc just to see if there isn’t anything underlying. Very rare that anything is. Just from my experience, if you find it happens on more then one exercise. Just for me it did, headaches happened during gym with migraines then as well at home, then unfortunately it escalated. But my experience is just that my experience and is very unlikely to happen to anyone else. Just maybe good to use it as a cue to get some blood work and check ups to see your vitals.

[Adam Hollis]

AlexaMay wrote:

I’m going to comment only from my own personal experience, but it is solely from my own personal experience and I am no specialist, or doctor, my migraines after my intense workouts signaled something going on for me medically. I don’t want to fear monger and what happened to me was incredibly rare, but maybe go get checked out, bloods, blood pressure, etc just to see if there isn’t anything underlying. Very rare that anything is. Just from my experience, if you find it happens on more then one exercise. Just for me it did, headaches happened during gym with migraines then as well at home, then unfortunately it escalated. But my experience is just that my experience and is very unlikely to happen to anyone else. Just maybe good to use it as a cue to get some blood work and check ups to see your vitals.

Yeah totally. I’ll be getting checked regardless to have another base level
I’ve suffered from migraines for years but never have had anything so intense

[Rob Jenkins]

I’ve had the same on heavy leg presses and I think it’s a combination of the things mentioned: going all out for a PB but losing correct breathing, posture and too much tension

[AlexaMay]

Same Adam, had migraines for years. Migraines are harmless. But their increased frequency from exercise exertion was a symptom of something else (in my case* not always!). But again I must preface that headaches can mean so many things so as a lot of people say it could just be pressure and lack of breathing and oxygen to the head. Maybe do as the Joe mentioned and see for improvements. 🙏 didn’t want to fear anyone at all, just coming at it from my uneducated perspective but my own experience. Which is incredibly unlikely! If the pain persists, ongoing after training, grab some medical expertise. Again I’m not Joe or Bryce and this is not my forum and I must apologize if my answer is not in line with community guidelines in this forum and please feel free to delete. Just wanted to add my perspective. But it is only from experience and not of education like joes and Bryce’s. 🙏

[Josh Landers]

I had an issue with this a few months ago. Lasted about a week and then stopped happening. My BP was fine. Doc said I was just stressed tf out even if I didn’t realize it and told me to try Tai Chi 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Joe]

[Kevin Schlosser]

It used to happen to me a few years ago, I believe mine were caused from improper breathing at that time

[Author]

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