Cervicogenic headaches is pain that originates from issues in the neck, generally caused by problems with some part of the neck structure, ie. the muscles or bone structure.
This pain is similar in nature to a migraine, but differs in that the source of the pain comes from the neck area. Hence the pain felt as a “headache” is referred pain from the cervical area.
Signs & Symptoms….
Apart from the headache pain experienced, other symptoms of cervicogenic headaches include:
- pain on one side of your head or face
- a stiff neck
- pain around the eyes
- head pain when coughing or sneezing
What Causes Cervicogenic Headaches?
There a number of causes of a cervicogenic headache, including:
- Issues with the neck bones (vertebrae), joints, or muscles spanning over a period of time.
- As a result of injury to the neck area
- Arthritis
- Poor posture
- Nerve compression in the neck area
How Can Physiotherapy Help?
There are a number of effective treatment methods which physiotherapists can provide to relieve pain caused by cervicogenic headaches.
Treatment methods include:
- Manual therapy and joint mobilisation
- Exercises to improve neck flexibility, endurance and strength
- Advice on posture and activities that may be aggravating the neck area
- Develop a self management plan to prevent ongoing issues
