If you suffer from persistent or recurring headache, it may be that your neck is the culprit (and you may not even have neck pain!). This cause of headache has been commonly overlooked which has often resulted in patients suffering for many years.
At West London Physiotherapy we are experts in assessing and treating neck related headache.
Headaches caused by the structures of the neck are often one-sided, with pain usually arising at the base of the skull and referring to the temple, forehead or eye region. However pain can be present in the eye/head region alone. Pain can be aggravated by neck movement or sustained postures and is often eased (or provoked) by manual pressure to the base of the skull. You might wake up with pain, or it might come as the day progresses.
How can my neck cause pain in my head?
It has been well demonstrated that structures in the neck can refer pain to the head. The nerves that start in the top of the neck (C1-3) also provide sensation to the face and head. If these nerves are aggravated by stiff joints and muscles in the neck, they can cause pain in your head. This is called referred pain.
What will a Physio assessment look for?
Our Physiotherapists will thoroughly assess your neck and headaches. They will ask specific questions to rule out other causes of headaches. They will then feel and assess the structures of your neck to decide if they may be causing headache.
If the neck structures are involved, we will find
- Tight and painful structures in your neck (joint and muscle).
- Pressure on specific structures of your neck will reduce your head pain.
- A forward head posture, and stiff mid back.
- Reduced motion in the upper joints of the neck.
- Reduced endurance in the deep muscles of the neck.
Does Physio treatment help?
In short, YES. After correctly diagnosing the neck as the cause of headache, treatment can be quite straightforward for an experienced Physiotherapist. At West London Physio, we use a combination of gentle manipulation of the neck joints, massage and/or acupuncture to reduce muscle tension and spasm, and specific exercise to retain the deep muscles of the neck and improve the posture of the head and neck.
