ARE YOUR HEADACHES
COMING FROM YOUR NECK

Headaches have multiple sources, but there are some key indicators if your headaches are stemming from a neck problem.  Headaches that originate from neck dysfunction are known as Cervicogenic Headaches.

What Symptoms Can It Produce?

  • Neck discomfort that follows or leads up to a headache
  • Stiffness and tightness in the neck associated with a headache flare up
  • A feeling of pressure or tension right at the base of the skull and top of the neck.
  • You may also notice that holding certain postures or movements can stimulate a headache.

How Does It Develop?

1) The Upper Cervical Spine loses normal alignment and compress nerves and vessels that travel into the skull, leading to a headache.

2) Tight/Spasmed Suboccipital Muscles.  The suboccipital muscles sit at the base of the skull and help move and stabilize the upper 2 bones in the cervical spine.  When they get tight it will feel like a band of tension right across the top of the neck.

3) Nerve compression in the upper neck.  This relates to nerve compression from the vertebrae in the neck, but also the nerve fibers in the suboccipital muscles.  It has one of the highest density of nerve fibers per muscle fiber. Which means when the muscles become a problem, it also irritates nerves nearby, increasing the intensity of the discomfort and even the headache associated.  

What To Do

  • Make sure you have full normal alignment of the upper cervical spine.  This ensures normal muscle tension on the upper neck, but also no nerve compression and no headaches.  Getting specific adjustments to the upper neck is the most powerful tool to reduce cervicogenic headaches.
  • Have your Chiropractor perform Muscle release/Origin Insertion technique of the upper neck.  By massaging and stretching the suboccipitals you can decrease the amount of tension of the muscles on the upper neck, and decrease the severity or frequency of the headaches.  
  • Avoid poor chronic posture of the cervical spine as it can lead to upper neck dysfunction.Follow our ergonomic excellence video’s to avoid any bad habits leading to neck problems.  
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