Headache Relief Through Physical Therapy
Look beyond short-term pain relief and address the neck, posture, and movement factors contributing to your headaches.
Relieve Those Pounding Headaches
Physical therapy is not normally someone’s first thought when they have a headache. Pain-relieving medication may help in the short term, but for people constantly dealing with headaches or migraines, physical therapy can provide a longer-term approach.
A greater majority of headaches are attributed to cervicogenic headaches, meaning they are related to the neck in some form. Poor posture, stress, and other factors can contribute to weakness, strain, and injury in the neck muscles and joints. Pain can radiate into the scalp, side of the head, and forehead depending on the area of the neck involved.
Headaches are common: approximately 80–90% of people across the U.S. endure occasional or frequent tension headaches. Whether your symptoms are acute and temporary or constant and chronic, Cutting Edge Physical Therapy can evaluate the factors involved and create a plan for you.
What Type of Headache Are You Experiencing?
Different headache types can develop from different causes. A physical therapist will ask about your health history and symptoms and perform an evaluation to help determine where your pain may be stemming from.
Tension Headaches
The most common form of headache, tension headaches can occur due to repetitive motions or poor posture in the neck and head. Strain on the dura mater can cause small muscles at the base of the skull to spasm and send pain signals to the brain.
Musculoskeletal Headaches
These headaches occur with significant tension in the neck, often related to physical imbalances, weakness, damage, or emotional stress. A traumatic neck injury such as whiplash can lead to pain in the head, face, shoulders, or neck.
Cervicogenic Headaches
Cervicogenic headaches are related to neck pain involving the top three vertebrae. Conditions such as concussion or arthritis, as well as work-related strain from a down-turned head or neck position, can contribute.
How Physical Therapy Can Help
At your initial visit, a highly trained physical therapist will conduct a physical evaluation and discuss your health history and symptoms. From there, your therapist will design a treatment plan specifically for you and your recovery.
Our headache treatment focuses on relieving pain, improving posture, and strengthening the muscles of the neck and upper back. Addressing these areas can help make daily life more comfortable and bearable without the ongoing burden of headache pain.
For people whose work setup or daily activities contribute to a down-turned head or neck position, an ergonomic evaluation may help identify practical changes to improve comfort and movement.
Related Concerns and Approaches
Headache symptoms can overlap with neck pain, jaw dysfunction, posture concerns, and injuries such as whiplash. Explore related services and conditions treated at Cutting Edge Physical Therapy.
Head and Neck Pain
Neck strain, weakness, and repeated stress can be important contributors to head pain.
TMJ Dysfunction
Jaw symptoms can affect everyday activities such as eating and yawning and may occur alongside head and neck concerns.
Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries
Whiplash and other accident injuries can lead to neck pain, stiffness, reduced movement, and headaches.
Ready to Start Relieving Your Headaches?
Cutting Edge Physical Therapy will create an individualized plan to help you address pain, improve posture, and strengthen the neck and upper back.