Is Your Neck Causing Your Headache?

Is Your Neck Causing Your Headache?

Have you been suffering from headaches for a long time? Did you know the nagging and throbbing pain in your head could actually be caused by neck-related problems?

Neck-related headache, or cervicogenic headache, is a type of headache that originates from your neck. Dysfunction of the upper part of your neck (C1, C2 & C3) leads to pain signals relayed towards your eyes, face, forehead, or sides of your head.

Possible Symptoms of Cervicogenic Headaches:

• One-sided pain on the face or head
• Pain around the eyes
• Reduced neck range-of-movement
• Pain in the neck or shoulder
• Headache triggered by certain neck movements or poor postures
• Nausea, vomiting or dizziness

Common Causes of Cervicogenic Headaches:

• Longstanding neck pain or stiffness
• Road traffic accidents / whiplash injuries
• History of neck sprains
• Poor neck posture

How do I know if my headache is neck-related?

To determine if your headache is neck-related, 3 tests could be performed.  If you are “positive” in all 3 tests, your headache is very likely to be neck-related.  If you are “positive” in only 1 or 2 tests, your headache is less likely to be neck-related.      

Test 1: Neck active range-of-movement test

Test 2: Lift off test

Test 3: Pressure to the neck

Self-management for Cervicogenic Headache

The two exercises below could help relieve your headache.

Exercise 1: self-massage of neck muscles

Use your knuckle and press into the dimple at the back of your skull gently in a circular motion.

Exercise 2: Stretching the back of your neck

Tuck your chin in first. Then put your hands at the back of the head and bend downwards gently. Hold for 15 seconds. You should feel a stretch at the back of your neck.

How can a Physiotherapist help you?

Cervicogenic headaches are caused by dysfunction in the neck, therefore a detailed assessment is needed to determine if you have any muscle imbalances, misalignment in your spine (neck vertebrae) or posture, in order to tackle the root cause of your cervicogenic headache.

This is where the expertise management of a physiotherapist is needed to derive a tailored treatment plan to target the root cause of your cervicogenic headache. Treatments may include manual therapy, dry needling or strengthening of your neck muscles.

Need Help or Treatment? Contact Us Today!

Don't ignore your headache! Please consult our physiotherapists or a medical practitioner for advice and guidance on how to manage your headache.

At Prohealth Sports & Spinal Physiotherapy Centres, we offer hands-on pain relief and treatments for headaches & migraines as well as other musculoskeletal injuries that affect the muscles, bones, joints and movements of the body.

Our treatment plans are always personalised for each individual to each their maximum recovery potential.

For more information, contact us at +852 2530 0073, or email appt@sportsandspinal.hk.

Written by

Arnold Tsang

Registered Physiotherapist (HK and UK)

Arnold has worked in public practises and gained lots of experience in the Physiotherapy field. If you are suffering from neck-related headaches, book an appointment with him now.

Book a session with our friendly physiotherapists for an in depth assessment.