Cervicogenic Headaches

The symptoms in the neck and shoulders cause neck pain due to the close proximity of the spinal nerves from the neck and the cranial nerves supplying the face. This functional convergence means that bilateral pain reference can happen, i.e. pain can be felt in the head or neck which is actually caused by the other.

Treatment for cervicogenic headaches should be multifaceted i.e. using lots of different methods such as simple medication such as non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which are found in drugs such as nurofen, but you should see your pharmacist/Dr for more advice on this.

As osteopaths we use and focus on manual and manipulative techniques to treat cervicogenic headaches. A study comparing an exercise program with manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache reported substantial and sustained reductions of headache frequency and intensity that were similar in both treatment groups but showed that even better benefits could be achieved if the treatments were combined.

Another study showed that to reduce headache in the long term a well structured exercise and stretch routine helped significantly.

Osteopathic manipulative techniques such as craniosacral, strain-counter strain, and muscle energy techniques are particularly well suited for the management of cervicogenic headache. Physical treatment modalities are generally better tolerated when initiated with gentle muscle stretching and manual cervical traction. Therapy can be slowly advanced as tolerated to include strengthening and aerobic conditioning.