Link Between Neck Pain and Headaches

Bottom Line:

Your head hurts. Could it be coming from your neck?

You may be surprised to learn that neck pain and headaches are tightly linked together.

A headache that starts from an issue in the neck is called a cervicogenic headache. A cervicogenic headache is characterized by a dull pain that radiates from the neck to the back of the head. At times it may spread around the side or front of your head.

Why it Matters:

Cervicogenic headaches are common if you spend long hours at the computer each day.

Neck stiffness and tender muscles around your head and shoulders often come along with cervicogenic headaches because of the position that many of us sit in all day.

That added stress and strain on your upper back and neck muscles adds up. Without taking proactive steps to address the cause, you may notice that the headaches become more frequent and intense.

Keep this in mind…

• Cervicogenic headaches can begin due to tightness in the shoulders, a stiff neck, or poor posture.
• Chiropractic adjustments can reduce the severity and frequency of headaches.
• Over 70% of people with cervicogenic headaches find significant relief with chiropractic adjustments.

Next Steps:

To break the cycle of daily cervicogenic headaches, you need to address the underlying cause.

Staying well hydrated (with water!), stretching at least every hour, and setting your workstation up ergonomically are all important to reduce your headache risk.

If you still notice that headaches are bugging you, or you’re experiencing neck pain or limited neck range of motion, call us for a complete evaluation so we can create a plan of care to help you not only get well, but stay well!

Science Source(s):

Chiropractic Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Cervicogenic Headache: a Single-Blinded, Placebo, Randomized Controlled Trial. BioMed Central. 2017.

Keyword(s): neck pain and headaches