In recent years there is growing evidence of the role your neck maybe playing in causing headaches and migraines. Researchers feel that neck headache accounts for up to 22% of all headaches and migraines seen clinically. (Racicki et al 2013; Watson 2014)

The good news is that by fixing your neck problem, your neck headache can be alleviated and physiotherapy for headaches and migraines can really help.

How does your neck cause headache or migraine?

Your neck headache can originate from a variety of musculoskeletal and neurovascular structures in your upper neck; including the upper three neck joints, C2/3 disc, spinal cord coverings and neck muscles.

In simple terms, your neck joints can cause a neck headache or pain if they are either too stiff, too weak, too mobile (moving too much) or over stressed by abnormal joint position and movements.

Once your neck joint becomes stressed and painful, the pain signals are referred to an information center in your brainstem… and you start to feel a headache or migraine.

How can physiotherapy help your Headaches and Migraines?

Physiotherapy can be highly beneficial for individuals suffering from headaches and migraines.

Here are some key benefits:

1. Pain Relief

• Manual Therapy: Techniques such as massage, mobilisation, and manipulation can help reduce muscle and joint stiffness and improve joint function, leading to decreased headache frequency and intensity.
• Trigger Point Therapy: This involves applying pressure to specific points in the muscles to relieve tension and pain that contribute to headaches.

2. Postural Education

• Postural Correction: Certain positions and movements can contribute to headaches and migraines. We as Physiotherapists can teach you to alter your positions and movements to help reduce strain on the neck and shoulders.
• Strengthening Exercises: Exercises to improve control and strength of your neck and upper back muscles will help your neck tolerate loads movements better to help reduce headache triggers.

3. Stress Reduction

• Relaxation Techniques: We as Physiotherapists can teach relaxation exercises such as deep breathing and muscle relaxation techniques to help manage stress, a common migraine trigger.

4. Improved Mobility and Flexibility

• Stretching Exercises: Regular stretching can improve the flexibility of the neck, shoulder and upper back muscles, reducing the risk of tension headaches.
• Range of Motion Exercises: These exercises enhance joint mobility, which can help alleviate pain and prevent headaches.

5. Education and Self-Management

• Patient Education: Physiotherapists can provide education on headache triggers, lifestyle modifications, and effective self-management strategies.
• Ergonomic Advice: Guidance on proper workstation setup and daily habits to prevent headaches can be very beneficial.

6. Customised Treatment Plans

• Individual Assessment: Physiotherapists conduct thorough assessments to determine the specific causes of a patient’s headaches or migraines.
• Personalised Interventions: Based on the assessment, they create tailored treatment plans that address your individual needs and symptoms.

8. Prevention of Future Headaches

• Exercise Programs: Regular physical activity can help prevent headaches by reducing stress, improving posture, and increasing overall well-being.
• Lifestyle Modifications: Advice on diet, hydration, sleep, and stress management can help prevent headaches and migraines.

9. Non-Pharmacological Approach

• Drug-Free Treatment: Physiotherapy offers a non-invasive and drug-free approach to managing headaches and migraines, which can be beneficial for individuals who prefer to avoid medication or experience side effects from drugs.

Get assessed to see if your neck is contributing towards your headache or migraine and start your road to recovery.