Headaches – causes, symptoms and how Physio’s can help.
Headaches are one of the leading pain conditions throughout the lifespan. They can be dull, crushing, throbbing and at times land you in bed waiting for them to subside. Did you know that not all causes of headache are the same?
Classification of headache
The International Headache Society lists over 300 causes of headaches under three broad headings – Primary Headache (including migraine and tension headaches), Secondary Headache (including cervicogenic headache and temporomandibular dysfunction) and Neuropathies & Facial Pains and other headaches. While the classification list is extensive, and can sound overwhelming at times, the physiotherapists at our clinic can help to ask the right question’s and begin to find the ‘why’ behind your symptoms. For instance, is your headache brought on after sustaining one posture for too long? Is it aggravated by certain movements? Do other symptoms such as sensitivity to light accompany your headaches?
One type of headache that is often seen in our clinic is cervicogenic, for the remainder of this blog we will focus on this subgroup and the ways in which physiotherapy can help address them.
Cervicogenic Headaches
Cervicogenic headaches are headaches arising from pain and dysfunction in the neck (the cervical vertebra) and their surrounding structures including intervertebral discs, joints and soft tissues. The nerves arising from the first three of the cervical vertebra converge in the brain within the trigeminal nucleus where the pain messages are misinterpreted as a headache rather than from their true source of pain source in the neck.
Cervicogenic headaches usually start gradually and are often triggered by neck movement or sustained awkward positions. The pain can travel from the back of the head/neck to the front of the head and behind the eye. Cervicogenic headaches are predominantly one sided, usually on the same side that neck pain and stiffness is felt.
Physiotherapy and Cervicogenic Headaches
Physiotherapy has been shown in the literature to be effective in the management of cervicogenic headaches. When you attend an initial appointment with our physiotherapists they will chat with you about your symptoms, including when your headaches started, what brings them on and where you feel your pain. Following this a thorough assessment of your posture, movement patterns, joints and muscles will be performed to rule out other possible causes and confirm a diagnosis.
Physiotherapy treatment for cervicogenic headache may include:
- Manual therapy for joints and muscles
- Strengthening and stretching exercises
- Lifestyle and ergonomic advice and education