Headaches and migraines can significantly affect your everyday life, making it difficult to concentrate, exercise, work or enjoy time with family and friends.
Whether you experience occasional tension headaches, recurring migraines or persistent headaches associated with neck pain, understanding what is contributing to your symptoms is an important first step towards effective management.
At Dulwich Physiotherapy, we take an individualised approach to assessing and managing headaches and migraines. Our physiotherapists assess the muscles, joints and movement of the neck to identify whether musculoskeletal factors may be contributing to your symptoms.
Our aim is to help you better understand your headaches, reduce their impact and develop strategies for long-term management.
Not all headaches are the same. Identifying the type of headache you experience helps guide physiotherapy treatment.
Cervicogenic headaches originate from the upper cervical spine.
Common symptoms include:
Head pain that starts around the neck or base of the skull and may travel towards the forehead or behind the eyes.
Headaches aggravated by certain neck movements or sustained positions.
Neck stiffness or restricted movement.
Headaches that may occur predominantly on one side.
Physiotherapy can play an important role in assessing and treating cervicogenic headaches by addressing relevant neck joint and muscle dysfunction, improving movement with manual therapy, developing an individualised exercise program, and providing relevant education.
Tension-type headaches are one of the most common headache disorders. They are frequently described as a dull ache or a sensation of tightness or pressure around the head.
Common symptoms include:
A pressing or tightening sensation, often on both sides of the head.
Mild to moderate pain.
Tenderness around the neck, shoulders or scalp.
Symptoms that may be associated with stress, fatigue or prolonged periods in one position.
Physiotherapy treatment will include manual therapy to address muscular tension, home exercises, education and strategies for managing physical tension.
Migraine is a neurological condition that involves much more than head pain. Migraine attacks can significantly affect a person's ability to participate in their usual activities.
Symptoms may include:
Moderate to severe headaches, sometimes throbbing or one-sided.
Sensitivity to light, sound or smells.
Nausea or vomiting.
Visual disturbances or other aura symptoms in some people.
Neck pain, stiffness or dizziness.
Migraine is complex, and its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. While neck pain is common in people experiencing migraines, this does not necessarily mean the neck is causing them.
A physiotherapy assessment can help determine whether cervical musculoskeletal factors are contributing to symptoms and whether targeted treatment may form a useful part of your overall migraine management. Referrals to other health professionals will be provided if approriate.
Understanding your headache history
We discuss the location, frequency and severity of your headaches, associated symptoms and any patterns or triggers you have noticed.
A detailed neck and movement assessment
We assess relevant neck movement, joint and muscle function to identify whether musculoskeletal factors may be contributing to your symptoms. We also screen for signs that require medical assessment.
Individualised treatment
Depending on your assessment findings, treatment may include gentle manual therapy, targeted neck exercises, strengthening, movement advice and education.
Long-term headache management
We work with you to develop practical strategies to manage your symptoms, improve your physical capacity and reduce the disruption headaches cause to everyday life.
