Cervicogenic Headaches

11 Sep Cervicogenic Headaches

By Ethan Hanley (Physiotherapist)
 

Do you suffer from Headaches??

As it’s National Headache & Migraine Week, I’m going to walk you through one type of headache that we can help with as physiotherapists.
Our physiotherapists can help relieve the headaches caused by the joints and or soft tissues structures of the neck. These are classified as Cervicogenic Headaches and are often persistent headaches commonly arising from the upper levels of the neck (cervical spine) affecting the nerves and their pathways to the face and neck. These nerves interact and can relay pain messages between the head and neck, referring pain from either area to both regions allowing for headaches to accompany or replace neck pain.
These headaches are not exclusively caused by an acute injury to the neck, but can build up over long periods of stress, poor head and neck posture or poor biomechanical technique in the gym, at home, at work or on the sporting field.

How can we help?

Research has shown that physiotherapy treatment including manual mobilizations and soft tissue techniques can relieve pain and tension symptoms.

Addressing poor postures by correcting head and neck positioning and strengthening the deep support muscles in the neck is important before progressing to exercise-based programs to build postural strength and endurance. Introducing strategies to include at work, home or the gym help to reduce the increased load to the neck and are also important and effective at reducing cervicogenic headaches.
Other types of therapy including pharmacological for pain relief and psychological treatment addressing the cause of stress, anxiety or depression from persistent headaches are also effective and should be considered during your rehabilitation.

Biondi, D. M. (2005). Cervicogenic headache: a review of diagnostic and treatment strategies. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 105(4_suppl), 16S-22S.

Jull, G., Trott, P., Potter, H., Zito, G., Niere, K., Shirley, D., … & Richardson, C. (2002). A randomized controlled trial of exercise and manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache. Spine, 27(17), 1835-1843.

Racicki, S., Gerwin, S., DiClaudio, S., Reinmann, S., & Donaldson, M. (2013). Conservative physical therapy management for the treatment of cervicogenic headache: a systematic review. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, 21(2), 113-124.

If this sounds familiar or if you have persistent neck pain or headaches, call our clinic on 3354 1819 to make an appointment with one of our physios.

Ethan Hanley

Physiotherapist

Ethan believes in manual therapy and tailored exercise prescriptions for reducing your symptoms and restoring function. He provides education and advice for managing your condition or injury throughout your rehabilitation.