Hello again and welcome back to another insightful edition of "Wealth of Health." This month, we scientifically tackle the complex realm of headaches and neck pain. We couldn't help but wonder what the latest evidence is saying so we decided to take a deep dive into this one. In this blog we discuss the link between headaches and neck pain and explain exactly how physiotherapy works to fix it. We hope you enjoy the Blog.

Can my headache be coming from my neck?

Imagine this scenario: A throbbing headache envelops your senses, and almost simultaneously, you feel tension coursing through your neck. This sensory response isn't merely coincidental; underpinned by intricate physiological mechanisms, a strong relationship exists between the sensations of the neck and head. In fact, a significant portion of headaches occur due to no fault of the head but rather as a direct result of sensitised structures in the neck which stimulate a pain response in the head. Sometimes, there is no noticeable sensation in the neck pain, however,  it is actually the neck which is the primary cause of the headache. In the world of healthcare, we very commonly see patients present with such a condition and this is most commonly referred to as Cervicogenic Headache.

                “Approximately 47% of the global population will suffer from headache at some point within their lives and approximately 20% of those headaches are cervicogenic.”

                                                                                                                                          (International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy 2011)

Just how common is it?

If you are experiencing headaches and neck pain, you are not alone. A 2022 systematic review published in Cephalalgia shed some incredible insights into the connection between headaches and neck pain. The paper reveals that neck pain is 12 times more frequent among migraine sufferers. Interestingly, the systematic review also found that chronic migraine sufferers are twice as likely to experience neck pain. So clearly there is a significant link between headaches and neck pain. 

Lets tap into the Science

A 2019 study published in ‘Frontiers of Neurology’ “A Neuroscience Perspective of Physical Treatment of Headache and Neck Pain” takes an in depth look at the underlying mechanisms, summarising 3 key factors which contribute to cervicogenic headache.  

1.      Trigger points in suboccipital and upper shoulder muscles

2.      Restricted range of motion of upper cervical segments

3.      Mechanical stress exerted on upper cervical spine joints

Intriguingly, the study goes on to discuss effective treatment modalities for cervicogenic headache suffers. The two take aways being:

Stimulating our body’s awareness system by means of targeted active exercises for the neck muscles, decreases the excitability  of nerve feedback and thereby reduces our bodies sensitivity and alertness to headaches. Manual therapy techniques that activate of our body’s pain feedback system at the upper cervical spine are of significant value in treating headaches.

A seminal systematic review from 2016, published in the "European Spine Journal," highlights the significance of active interventions in the management of headache linked to neck pain. The analysis emphasizes the effectiveness of non-invasive interventions like physiotherapy, notably advocating for exercises targeting the neck muscles for the most effective results when treating headache. The review's sentiments are echoed across the health and therapeutic landscape, reinforcing the importance of proactive engagement and early integration of healthy movement to achieve optimal clinical outcomes.

Physiotherapy Intervention

Making sense of the physiological cause of, to then decipher the best intervention for your cervicogenic headache is where well-trained physiotherapists make their money. Armed with an arsenal of anatomical knowledge and expertise to correctly assess and address the root aetiology our therapists are completely focused on providing you with the complete solution to your headaches. Aggravations and irritations of the human body are like riddles just waiting to be solved. Cervicogenic headache is no different and our therapists comprehensive approach explains why at Gold Coast Physiotherapy, we see such high success rates within the first 3 weeks of Physiotherapy treatment. Using a combination of hands on therapy techniques, exercise prescription and self-management stratergies, at Gold Coast Physiotherapy you will recieve the latest in evidence based care to get rid of your headache for good.

Ready to get rid of neck pain and headaches?

So now we know, headaches and neck pain are more intertwined than we might have thought. Thanks to groundbreaking research, we're now equipped with insights that empower us to get rid of these discomforts for good. Take the first step towards becoming headache free by Booking an Appointment with one of our friendly practitioners at Gold Coast Physiotherapy. Our team of skilled professionals are here to guide you on your journey to optimal health. Discover more about our services and how we can help you regain control over your well-being.

References

Al-Khazali  HM ., Younis  S., Al-Sayegh Z., Ashina  S., Ashina M., Schytz  HW. (2022). Prevalence of neck pain in migraine: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cephalalgia

42(7). 663-673.  

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35166137/#:~:text=Neck%20pain%20was%2012%20times,from%2061.3%25%20to%2072.0%25

Castien R & De Hertogh W (2019). A Neuroscience Perspective of Physical Treatment of Headache and Neck Pain. Frontiers in Neurology. 26:10:276.  

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30972008/

Varatharajan S., Ferguson B., Chrobak K., Shergill  Y., Côté  P., Wong JJ., Yu H., Shearer HM., Southerst D., Sutton D., Randhawa K, Jacobs C., Abdulla S., Woitzik E., Marchand  AA, van der Velde G., Carroll LJ, Nordin M., Ammendolia C., Mior S , Ameis A., Stupar M., Taylor-Vaisey A. (2016). Are non-invasive interventions effective for the management of headaches associated with neck pain? An update of the Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders by the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration. European Spine Journal. 25(7):1971-99.  

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26851953/