CERVICOGENIC HEADACHE

Headaches can manifest on their own but are also very common symptoms in neck pain patients.
Cervicogenic headaches are the second type of headache which means it is a symptom of another condition like neck pain. And caused by a disorder involving the cervical spine and its body disc and or soft tissue element (eg. tightness of the surrounding neck muscles, compression or inflammation of facet joints in the cervical spine).
In Cervicogenic headaches, the headache developed after the onset of the cervical disorder/lesion. And headache improves/resolves in parallel with improvement of cervical disorder.  Also, the cervical ROM is reduced, movement dependent/posture-dependent pain.
You can visit a physiotherapist especially a musculoskeletal or sports physiotherapist for the treatment of Cervicogenic headaches.

Physiotherapy Treatment of Cervicogenic headache includes:

Thermal therapy- putting a hot water bottle or wheat bag that you can put in the microwave, placing around the neck for approximately two to five minutes to soften the muscle around the neck. Or you can come to a physiotherapy clinic where a physiotherapist will apply a hot pack from hydro collateral.
Cervical massage therapy- you can start around the base of the head, a circular motion around the base, and move that rotational movement down toward the front of the neck, and then around the back.  Also, a physiotherapist uses some soft tissue mobilization techniques to reduce muscle tension.
Chin tuck- tuck your chin back and make a double chin. And hold the position for 3-5 seconds.
Lying chin tucks- you lie down and place a towel roll under your neck and now do chin tucks.
Rotation of neck- do neck rotation from side to side.
Modified neck movements- bring your chin down (chin tuck), and then, rotate your neck left and right.
Upper trapezius stretching- clasping your hand behind the head, gently dropping the chin down holding between 15 to 30 seconds.
Scapular squeeze- relaxed your shoulder and just squeeze the shoulder back.
Foam rolling the upper back muscles- a sports physiotherapist will teach you the right way to do foam rolling.
Traction & Cervical mobilization- a well-experienced sports physiotherapist can perform cervical mobilization to relieve your Cervicogenic headache symptoms.
Chiropractic or osteopathic treatment- sports physiotherapists are highly trained to perform these techniques, this will relieve your pain and improve posture and fasten the recovery time.
Super inductive system- at the elite physiotherapy & sports injury center we have the latest technology equipment which can be proven very beneficial for recovery along with physiotherapy treatment.