Understanding Headaches
Helping you take control of your health, one step at a time.
Is Your Neck Contributing to Your Headaches?
Headaches are a common health issue that can affect how we work, sleep, move, and think. What many people don’t realise is that your neck might be playing a bigger role in your headaches than you expect, even if you don’t feel obvious neck pain.
What’s the Link Between the Neck and Headaches?
The upper part of the neck shares nerve pathways with the area of the brain that processes head and facial pain. This means that stiffness, irritation, or dysfunction in the top neck joints or surrounding muscles can refer pain to the head, leading to certain types of headaches.
Physiotherapists often see this pattern in people with:
- Tension-type headaches
- Cervicogenic (neck-related) headaches
- Migraines, where the neck might be one of several contributing factors
Signs Your Headache May Be Neck-Related
- Headache that starts at the base of the skull or behind the eyes
- Triggered or worsened by neck movement or posture (e.g., long hours at a desk)
- Stiffness or discomfort in the neck, even if mild
- Reduced neck movement when a headache is present
How Physiotherapy Can Help?
Physiotherapists are trained to assess and treat conditions that affect how your neck moves and functions.
Treatment is personalised and may include:
- Manual therapy: Gentle techniques to reduce joint stiffness and muscle tension
- Exercise therapy: Targeted movements to strengthen deep neck muscles and support better posture
- Education: Helping you understand your triggers and habits that may contribute to headaches
- Lifestyle support: Guidance on workstation setup, stress, movement habits, and sleep
What About Vestibular Migraines?
Vestibular migraines are a type of migraine that involve dizziness, vertigo, or balance disturbances, with or without the classic headache pain. People with vestibular migraines may feel light-headed, experience a spinning sensation, or find it hard to tolerate movement, busy environments, or bright lights.
Physiotherapy may help by:
- Addressing neck stiffness or imbalance, which can aggravate symptoms
- Supporting vestibular rehabilitation to improve balance and reduce dizziness
- Helping with gradual exposure to movement to reduce motion sensitivity
- Collaborating with your GP or neurologist for comprehensive care
Want to know more? Book an appointment or ask your physio at Whittlesea Physiotherapy about how we can help.