What causes a headache?
Nearly 20% of headaches are cervicogenic, indicating that the cervical spine is the direct source of them (neck). Cervicogenic headaches typically only affect one side of the head, with pain starting in the neck and moving forward to the front of the head. The headache begins as sporadic attacks and eventually develops into virtually constant agony.
Neck movement or a certain neck posture may cause pain or make it worse. Pressure applied to specific areas of the neck may also cause pain. Simply being subjected to an excessive amount of stress on your neck and spine, frequently as a result of poor posture or repetitive tension of the muscles surrounding the neck, is one of the most significant causes of a cervicogenic headache.
How Does Physiotherapy Work for Headaches?
Physiotherapy for headaches begins with an assessment of your symptoms, neck movement, posture, strength, flexibility, and functional abilities. Your physiotherapist may also examine the relationship between your neck movement and headache symptoms to determine whether a musculoskeletal component may be contributing.
Depending on your assessment, treatment may include manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, mobility work, strengthening, posture and movement education, and strategies for managing activities that may aggravate your symptoms.
Benefits of Physiotherapy for Headaches
- Improve neck mobility
- Address muscle tension and movement limitations
- Improve strength and postural control
- Develop strategies for managing activities that aggravate symptoms
- Improve tolerance for everyday activities
- Support better neck and upper-body movement
Take the next step.
Our Scott Road clinic welcomes patients from Guildford, Newton, Scott Road, and North Delta for personalized occupational therapy focused on their individual functional goals. Book online or call 778-590-4243.
