190503 ELITE TMH34040

Headache Physiotherapy: How your neck causes your headache

ByElisha

Headaches and migraines can be very debilitating and affect approximately 50% of the population.

There can be a range of causes responsible for headaches. Some of the latest research has shown that dysfunction in the top three vertebrae of the spine is a major contributor to headaches and migraines. This is the case is because it has been shown that the brainstem has become sensitised. This means that normal stimuli that is transmitted through the brain stem is interpreted in a different way to normal by the brain.

The areas that transmit stimuli through the brain stem are:

  • Neck
  • Eyes
  • Ears
  • Nose and Sinuses
  • Forehead
  • Sinuses
  • Scalp

This is why if one of your triggers is associated with one of the areas mentioned above, dysfunction in the neck may be a causative factor.

conditions

Treatment of the cervical spine consisting of gentle mobilisation helps to reduce the dysfunction of the cervical spine, therefore decreasing the sensitisation of the brainstem. This leads to a decrease in headaches and migraines.