headaches
Headaches & Neck Pain
Headaches, including cervicogenic headaches and migraines, are common conditions that can disrupt daily life. Cervicogenic headaches often originate from neck problems, such as muscle tension, joint dysfunction, or poor posture. Migraines, while more complex, can also be influenced by neck-related issues. Physiotherapy offers effective solutions to address the root causes of headaches, reduce pain, improve neck mobility, and decrease headache frequency and intensity. If you're struggling with persistent headaches or migraines, expert physiotherapy care can help you find lasting relief and regain your quality of life.
Key Points
What you might be feeling
Headaches originating from or relating to neck dysfunction can be very successfully treated and prevented with physiotherapy.
These headaches may present as:
- Pain & tension in the neck
- Pain, ache & pressure in the forehead and back of the head
- Tension in the temple and jaw area
- Pain that is made worse with sustained and repeated postures
(especially sitting) and movement of the neck - A headache with a feeling of light headedness or dizziness
- Pain usually on the same side of the head as neck pain
Cervical headaches are usually described as a constant, steady, dull ache. It can be to one side or both sides. It can be to one side or both sides. It can also feel like a pulling or gripping feeling, sometimes a tight band around the head. The headache usually is felt at the base of the skull and can be referred to the front of the head to the temple area or over and behind the eyes. The headaches usually come on over a period of time, gradually getting worse. The headaches may be present for days, weeks even months. Sometimes there may be a history of an acute trauma such as whip-lash injury or repetitive trauma associated with work or a sporting activity.
Providing Best Rehabilitation
How a physio can help
Physiotherapy management requires assessment and treatment of all the abnormalities found in the joints, muscles and neural structures. As well as education on posture and work practices.
Postural Assessment and Advice – Education on optimal posture and postural retraining is key component. More importantly, advice around current activities, which may be contirbuting to symptoms and how to modify these can be extremely beneficial.
Mobilisation – Stiff joints in the neck should be mobilised to restore range of movement. Stiffness in the jaw joints can also be problematic and should be mobilised if needed.
Stretching – Stretching of the neck and shoulder muscles can help alleviate headaches.
Strengthening – cervical muscle retraining is vital. Your physiotherapist will show you how to retrain your deep neck muscles to restore the normal muscle balance and recruitment
Stress and tension management – Identification and reduction of the sources of stress and tension need to be incorporated as this commonly leads to tightness in the upper back and neck muscles.
Soft tissue work and massage – Your physiotherapist may use different massage and soft tissue techniques to help the muscles in your neck and upper back.
Dry Needling – dry Needling works similarly to acupuncture, which is the placement of very think needles into specific locations in the body. It is often used to help alleviate headaches through redlieving muscle tension in the targeted areas. In the case of headaches and neck pain this includes muscles around the shoulder, head and shoulders.
Workplace and ergonomic assessment – A poor chair, a desk at the wrong height or wrong set-up or badly placed computer may result in poor posture contributing to strain on the neck. Your Physiotherapist can advise on office and workplace set up, bedding and pillows.
Neural stretching – Abnormal neural tension can also contribute to cervical headaches. Your physiotherapist will assess this and provide appropriate stretches as needed
