Don’t let headaches be a pain in the neck

Nearly all of us will suffer from a headache or two during our lifetime. In Australia, nearly 1 million people suffer headaches every day and for 90% of migraine sufferers, these headaches interfere with work, sport and social life.  

Types of headaches

Traditionally, headaches are often classified into migraines, tension-type headaches, cluster headaches and cervicogenic (neck related) headaches. However did you know that there are over 300 types of headaches that have been diagnosed? So the question is, are there 300 different causes of headache?

Causes of headaches

Recent research has indicated that the neck can be an underestimated source of headaches.  Rather than each of the 300 types of headaches having a separate cause, it is possible that there is a common cause with a differing expression.

Evidence is mounting that sensitisation of an area in your lower brainstem may be a contributing factor in many forms of headache and that desensitising this area can have a significant effect on headaches.

The upper three segments of the neck have a direct relationship with this area in the lower brainstem via the nervous system and through careful assessment and treatment of the upper neck, headaches can be often be successfully managed.

How a Physio can help

Physio treatment to decrease this sensitisation however not only focuses on the first three segments of the cervical spine but also looks at other contributing factors – that is why the upper three segments have been excessively overloaded to the point of producing a headache.  If not addressed, things such as posture, muscle strength in and around the neck and problems arising lower down the body – hips, pelvis, feet can cause stress in the upper cervical spine and trigger headaches.

Through activities such as desk work, using computers and driving, too many of us stick our chin out too far, which places significant stress on the upper neck. 

Technique to alleviate upper neck stress and headaches

This is a simple exercise you can try at home or work which will reverse the effects of desk work and driving. In turn, this can also alleviate headaches:

• Tuck your chin back, ensuring there is no tilt of the head.  This is like pushing in a drawer of a filing cabinet
• Place your tongue against the roof of your mouth and your hands on your chin and push back further, ensuring you keep all the muscles in your neck relaxed
• Hold this position for 20 seconds, then relax, repeating four times with a 5 seconds rest in between
• If you currently have a headache, repeat this every 20 minutes for 2-3 hours.  After this, repeat every 3 to 4 hours

Drug-free treatment of headaches

The evidence is mounting and is changing the way headaches are treated.  Where once, medications were the primary method to alleviate pain in the head, there is now more hope for sufferers in that there is indeed a medication free option to manage their headache.  Maybe it is time to move away from short term relief from medications and look at longer lasting relief from headaches, something which is core to Back In Motion’s unique clinical philosophy of care.

If you're suffering from headachs often, book a Free Initial Assessment at your local Back In Motion practice to have the source of the pain diagnosed at no cost!

Jeremy Hobbs – Director and Physiotherapist, Back In Motion Mount Barker

Jeremy has been a physiotherapist since 1998 and completed his Masters in Sports and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy in 2005. His clinical interests are in movement disorders of the shoulder and lumbo-pelvic regions and he has worked with numerous VFL and SANFL football clubs, as well as at national tennis and triathlon events. Along with having taught undergraduate students in the field of clinical musculoskeletal physiotherapy, Jeremy's interest in treating low back pain and shoulder pain has seen him teaching on these topics within the Back In Motion network and at community seminars.