Q: What Causes Headaches?

Headaches can range from mildly unpleasant to severely debilitating, sometimes impairing cognitive clarity and day-to-day function. From a musculoskeletal and neurological standpoint, we frequently encounter headaches that stem from postural misalignments, structural dysfunctions, and nerve irritation. These issues may be caused by poor spinal mechanics, repetitive strain, or altered biomechanics affecting the cervical spine and related structures.

As physiotherapists and chiropractors, we are particularly focused on identifying neuromusculoskeletal imbalances. Nerve impingement, mechanical joint dysfunction, or myofascial trigger points may interfere with brain-body communication, leading to radiating pain and in some cases, progressing to migraines.

While occasional headaches are common and often transient, recurrent or persistent headaches are not part of a healthy physiological baseline. Regular headaches should be professionally assessed, as they are typically indicative of underlying dysfunction. Early clinical intervention not only alleviates symptoms but also enhances cognitive performance, decision-making, and overall wellbeing.

Q: How Are Headaches Diagnosed?

While most people can recognise when they are experiencing a headache, determining the underlying cause requires a structured clinical approach. At our clinic, we conduct a comprehensive initial physiotherapy assessment designed to identify the biomechanical, neurological, or inflammatory factors contributing to your symptoms.

Our diagnostic process includes:

• Detailed Medical and Family History: Identifying hereditary patterns and previous trauma or dysfunction.

• Postural and Structural Evaluation: Analysing spinal alignment and load distribution through visual assessment, posture photography, and gait analysis.

• Manual Palpation and Joint Testing: Evaluating joint mobility and muscular tension, especially in the cervical spine, jaw (TMJ), and shoulders.

• Neurological Testing: Assessing nerve conduction and identifying any disruptions to normal sensory or motor pathways.

• Inflammation and Functional Load Assessment: Measuring stress points and identifying regions of chronic strain or overload.

By integrating these clinical findings, we are able to determine the root cause of your headaches—allowing for precise, targeted treatment planning.

Note: If you experience headaches more than 15 days per month for at least 3 consecutive months, your condition is considered chronic and warrants medical evaluation and multidisciplinary care.

 

Q: What Are the Common Symptoms of Headaches?

Patients commonly present with a combination of the following symptoms:

• Persistent dull, aching head pain

• Tightness or pressure across the forehead, sides, or back of the head

• Tenderness in the scalp or temples

• Jaw discomfort or TMJ pain

• Muscular tightness and sensitivity in the neck and shoulders

• Sensations of pressure or imbalance related to poor posture

Such symptoms often suggest cervicogenic, tension-type, or referred myofascial pain patterns—all of which are responsive to physiotherapeutic and manual therapy interventions.

Effective Headache Treatment

While over-the-counter analgesics may offer temporary relief, sustainable resolution of headaches requires addressing their underlying cause. At Corrective Spinal Rehab, we focus on functional restoration rather than symptomatic masking.

Our treatment strategy includes:

• Corrective Manual Therapy: Targeting spinal and muscular imbalances contributing to nerve irritation or postural dysfunction.

• Neuromuscular Rehabilitation: Activating and retraining deep stabilising muscles to improve spinal control and load distribution.

• Nervous System Optimisation: Enhancing proprioception and neural integrity to improve the body's self-regulatory capacity.

• Postural Re-education: Supporting long-term alignment through targeted exercise and movement correction.

Through this multidimensional approach, we aim not only to alleviate headache symptoms but also to restore balance, prevent recurrence, and optimise overall functional health.