What causes Headaches and Migraine
Current medical research has shown that your upper neck (levels C1 – 3) can play a significant role in most headache and migraine conditions. The underlying cause is an overactive part of the Central Nervous System known as the brainstem, located at the lower part of your brain.
The brainstem takes information from nerves all over the body, interprets these signals, and relays the information to the brain. Headache and migraine sufferers have been shown to have hypersensitive brainstems, and normal external information is often perceived by the brain in the form of head/face/eye pain, dizziness, nausea, visual disturbances, ringing in the ears, etc.
The upper neck (C1 – C3) has direct neural inputs to the trigeminocervical nucleus of the brainstem, making these levels more important than the lower neck (C4 – 7) which do not. Nociceptors are activated as a result of dysfunction in the upper neck and send afferent signals to the brainstem. If the brainstem is already sensitised, it amplifies these signals in the form of a headache or migraine.
Watson Headache (R) Approach: How Physiotherapy can help!
The Watson Headache(R) Approach is a scientifically researched method of assessing and treating dysfunction in the upper neck, and enables the practitioner to exactly identify the specific joints contributing to headache and migraine symptoms. Treating these joints helps to decrease brainstem sensitivity, and in turn decrease the frequency, intensity, and/or duration of headache and migraine symptoms.
We know from studies that 80% of headache and migraine sufferers have a neck component to their problem. Treatment involves gentle sustained pressure to the upper neck, with no cracking or manipulation of the joints. We aim to reduce your symptoms in the first few sessions, and gradually add specific exercises, enabling you to take control of your condition and maintain your improvements. Our goal is to empower you, and eventually become less dependent on treatment and medication.
Jeff is a fully Certified Level 3 Watson Headache(R) Practitioner, and is very passionate about helping people through their journey. See Jeff Full Profile
For more information www.watsonheadache.com.au.