Headaches & Migraines
Physical therapy helps most with headaches that start in the neck (cervicogenic headaches) and with tension-type headaches, both often linked to posture and tight neck and shoulder muscles. For migraines, it works alongside your doctor. East Mountain Physical Therapy treats headaches for patients in Cedar Crest, Edgewood, Tijeras and Moriarty.
Which kind of headache do you have?
Cervicogenic
Starts in the neck.
- One-sided, often at the base of the skull
- Worse with certain neck positions
- A headache behind the eyes can come from here
Tension-type
A band of pressure.
- Both sides, dull and steady
- Tight neck and shoulders
- Often daily headaches in stressful stretches
Migraine
Treated with your doctor.
- Throbbing, often with nausea or light sensitivity
- Neck tension can be a trigger
- Physical therapy is a partner to medical care
How the neck, jaw and posture feed a headache
The top joints of the neck share nerve pathways with the head, so a stiff or irritated neck can refer pain into the skull. Forward head posture, clenching the jaw and long hours at a screen all add to it. Our treatment starts with the neck; see neck pain and, when the jaw is part of it, jaw pain.
What sessions include
- Hands-on work on the neck and upper back, including soft-tissue and joint mobilization
- Release of tight, tender spots in the neck and shoulder muscles
- Dry needling where it suits you
- Strength for the deep neck muscles and posture correction
- Breathing and relaxation habits you can use at your desk
What physical therapy can and cannot do for migraines
It can help reduce how often neck-related triggers set one off and how hard they hit. It does not replace a neurologist or your migraine medicine, and we will tell you when something should be looked at by a doctor.
Go to the emergency room if
- it is a sudden "worst headache of my life"
- a headache comes with weakness, slurred speech, confusion or vision loss
- a headache follows a head injury
Related care
Headaches & Migraines care in the East Mountains
We see patients from Cedar Crest, Edgewood, Tijeras, Moriarty and the East Mountains.