Cervicogenic Headaches
Are headaches and neck pain stopping you from sleeping and moving? Get on top of neck related headaches – Read on to find out how.
Cervicogenic headaches are headaches that come from the top 3 vertebrae of your neck. First we need to understand a bit more about the upper neck. The upper 3 vertebrae consists of C1,2,3. The first level is called the atlanto-occipital joint – which is the joint between the bottom of the skull and the first vertebrae. This joint accounts for 1/3 of all the neck flexion and extension. The next joint is the atlanto-axial joint, the joint between the 1st and 2nd vertebrae – and is responsible for 60% of the rotation of the neck. The nerves from the neck and a branch of one of the nerves from the brain merge and this provides the mechanism for referred pain to be felt over the face, side of the head or back of the head. These headaches are one sided, get worse with certain neck movements, are associated with neck stiffness and can be provoked with palpation of the first 3 cervical joints and often associated neck muscles.
The good news is these headaches respond really well to physiotherapy – read on to hear how.
Research has shown that physiotherapy can assess which type of headache you have and whether your headache is coming from your neck. Our physios will then use a variety of treatment techniques such as joint mobilisations, massage and trigger point release, dry needling (with consent), and importantly teach you how to strength the muscles associated with this type of headache.
If you think you are suffering with a cervicogenic headache, we can help you – an assessment with one of our super star physios will determine whether your headache is coming from your upper neck.
Cervicogenic headaches are suffered by up to 18% of the population, with sufferers reporting symptoms lasting from an hour to weeks. But this is not something that you need to put up with. This is a common problem that we treat successfully every day in our clinics. Often our patients will report relief from their headaches after the first treatment, and they return to normal movement and function with prevention of recurring symptoms when they follow their treatment plan.
So, if your headache is one sided and you have neck stiffness and pain on neck movement, click our link or give us a buzz and book an appointment to see one of our physiotherapists. Your physio will assess your neck, explain to you the problem, how long it will take to get better and give you a treatment plan to get rid of your cervicogenic headache and prevent it from coming back.
Miami Physio : 9534 4111
Lakelands Physio: 9542 9999
