A Long Term Solution for Headaches

Headaches are one of the most common health complaints, affecting up to 50% of the global population at any given time. For some, headaches are an occasional annoyance, but for others, they can be frequent, persistent, and debilitating, interfering with work, concentration, and daily activities.

While headaches can have many causes, research shows that a large percentage are linked to musculoskeletal dysfunction, particularly in the neck and upper back. If you experience frequent or persistent headaches, physiotherapy can help by addressing the underlying issues contributing to your pain.

At Move Physiotherapy, we specialise in evidence-based treatment for headaches caused by neck dysfunction, muscle tightness, and postural imbalances. Whether you suffer from tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, or migraines, our hands-on therapy and rehabilitation techniques can help relieve your symptoms and prevent them from returning.

A Long Term Solution for Headaches

Headaches are one of the most common health complaints, affecting up to 50% of the global population at any given time. While headaches can have a variety of causes, research shows that many are linked to musculoskeletal dysfunction, particularly in the neck and upper back. If you experience frequent or persistent headaches, it is essential to determine whether underlying factors such as muscle tension, joint stiffness, or nerve irritation are contributing to your pain.

There are several types of headaches that physiotherapy can help manage. Cervicogenic headaches originate from dysfunction in the neck joints, muscles, or nerves, often presenting as one-sided pain, stiffness, or discomfort that worsens with certain neck movements.

Tension headaches result from muscle tightness in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, leading to a dull, aching pain that can spread across the head. These headaches are often triggered by stress, prolonged muscle tension, or movement restrictions.

While migraines have neurological origins, they are frequently aggravated by neck tension, stress, and poor movement patterns, and physiotherapy can help manage the musculoskeletal factors that contribute to migraine frequency.

At Move Physiotherapy, we take a comprehensive approach to diagnosing headache-related pain. Our assessment begins with a detailed history of your symptoms, focusing on headache frequency, duration, and triggers. We conduct neck and spinal movement testing to identify stiffness, muscle and nerve assessments to evaluate tension in the upper back, neck, and jaw, and a headache pattern analysis to determine whether your headaches are related to neck dysfunction, muscular tension, or referred pain. By accurately identifying the root cause of your headaches, we can develop a personalised treatment plan that provides long-term relief and helps prevent future episodes.

How We Treat Headaches at Move Physiotherapy

At Move Physiotherapy, we focus on both immediate pain relief and long-term headache management by combining hands-on therapy, rehabilitation exercises, and self-management strategies. This approach helps reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches while addressing underlying dysfunctions in the neck and upper back.

To relieve muscle tightness, joint stiffness, and nerve irritation, we use manual therapy techniques such as soft tissue release and massage to reduce muscle tension, joint mobilisation and spinal manipulation to improve movement in the cervical spine, and dry needling to relieve deep muscle tightness. These treatments work together to restore normal movement, alleviate tension, and reduce headache symptoms.

While hands-on therapy provides short-term relief, long-term headache management requires strengthening and mobility work. Our rehabilitation programs focus on improving strength and control in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, incorporating targeted strengthening exercises to improve posture and spinal support, mobility drills to enhance flexibility and reduce stiffness, and postural training to correct movement patterns that contribute to headaches. Strengthening these key areas helps prevent recurrent tension and neck-related headaches.

We also empower our clients with self-management strategies to maintain progress and prevent future headaches. This includes education on headache triggers, self-release techniques, and stretching exercises for tension relief, as well as progress tracking and reassessments to ensure long-term improvement.

At Move Physiotherapy, our goal is to provide lasting relief from headaches, whether they stem from chronic tension, stress, or neck dysfunction. By combining evidence-based treatment with personalised rehabilitation, we help you return to a pain-free, more comfortable lifestyle.