If you’re prone to carrying tension in the shoulders and neck due to stress, spending long hours sitting at a desk, or engaging in repetitive activity, you may be at risk of developing cervicogenic headaches.
Cervicogenic headaches originate from structures in the cervical spine such as intervertebral discs, facet joints, muscles, and nerve roots. Depending on the source, symptoms may vary from a constant tightness or ache, to a throbbing pain in one or more sides of the head and face. Cervicogenic headaches can also be associated with “migraine-like” symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, as well as ear pain, or TMJ pain (joint that connects the jaw to the skull).
Physiotherapy offers various effective techniques to treat and address the underlying causes.
Here are a few commonly used approaches:
1. Posture correction; a physiotherapist can assess your posture and provide guidance on improving your alignment. By correcting your posture, you can reduce strain on the neck and minimize the frequency and intensity of cervicogenic headaches.
2. Manual therapy; manual therapy techniques, such as joint mobilization and soft tissue massage, can help relieve pain and stiffness in the neck. These hands-on approaches aim to improve joint mobility, reduce muscle tension, and restore normal movement patterns.
3. Strengthening exercises; weak neck muscles can contribute to cervicogenic headaches. Your physiotherapist will design an exercise program tailored to your needs, focusing on strengthening the neck muscles and improving stability. By building strength, you can enhance your neck’s ability to support your head, reducing the likelihood of headaches.
4. Ergonomic assessments; your physiotherapist may evaluate your workspace and provide recommendations to optimize ergonomics. Adjustments to your desk setup, chair, and computer monitor height can alleviate strain on the neck and promote proper alignment, reducing the occurrence of cervicogenic headaches.
5. Lifestyle modifications; your physiotherapist may suggest modifications to your daily habits to prevent cervicogenic headaches. These may include taking regular breaks from prolonged sitting or screen time, stress management, and incorporating regular physical activity into your routine.
Recent research has shown manual therapy in the short term and neck exercise in the long term may be effective in treating adults with cervicogenic headaches (Demont et al., 2022).
Anecdotally, this approach has also proven to be effective in reducing the occurrence of cervicogenic headaches.
If you would like to find out whether your headaches may be cervicogenic, or require help treating and managing headaches, please contact us on 02 9167 9678 or visit our website for more information & bookings; https://healthspaceclinics.com.au
Jenny is a physiotherapist at Health Space Kings Cross & available Tuesdays – Saturdays.
References:
Demont A, Lafrance S, Gaska C, Kechichian A, Bourmaud A, and Desmeules F, 2022, ‘Efficacy of Physiotherapy interventions for the management of adults with cervicogenic headache: A systematic review and meta-analysis’, PM&R Journal, vol. 15, issue 5, pp.613-628
