There are many types of headache but some arise from the upper three joints of the neck (the cervical spine). This type of headache often seems to radiate from the base of the skull up and over the forehead to the eye. The headache may occur on either side of the head, or on both sides. This headache pain may be aggravated by certain head movements or by sustained awkward head positions. The cause of this pain is joint irritation due to trauma, poor posture or joint disease. Frequently there is a loss of neck movement and accompanying neck and shoulder ache on the side of the headache.
Cervicogenic headaches can be successfully treated using physiotherapy modalities including joint mobilisation and manipulation techniques, soft tissue massage, acupuncture and postural correction through to stretching and deep postural muscle strengthening.
