Condition
Chiropractor for Headaches in Currambine
Not all headaches are the same, and not all of them are a chiropractic problem. The useful first step is working out which type you are dealing with — because tension-type and cervicogenic headaches often respond well to physical treatment, and others need a different approach entirely.
Can a chiropractor help with headaches?
Chiropractic care may help with tension-type and cervicogenic headaches — headaches with a muscular or neck-related component. It is not a treatment for all headache types. Assessment at Northern Beaches Chiropractic in Currambine identifies the likely type first, and refers on where a medical pathway is more appropriate.
What commonly contributes to it
People commonly visit us for assessment and management of headaches. These are the factors that turn up most often — your own picture is worked out in the assessment.
- Sustained neck and upper back tension from desk work or driving
- Restricted movement in the upper cervical joints
- Jaw clenching and grinding
- Poor sleep, dehydration and stress load
- Migraine, which has its own mechanisms and its own management
Tension-type and cervicogenic headaches
Tension-type headache is typically a band-like pressure across both sides of the head, often with tenderness through the neck and shoulders. Cervicogenic headache usually starts at the base of the skull and spreads over one side, and is provoked by neck movement or position.
Both have a physical component that can be assessed and treated. That is the group where chiropractic care is most likely to be useful.
Where migraine sits
Migraine is a neurological condition with its own triggers and treatments, and it is generally managed medically. Some people with migraine also carry a neck component that contributes to their overall load, and treating that can be worthwhile alongside medical care.
What will not happen here is a claim to treat migraine itself. If that is the primary picture, you will be pointed toward the right pathway.
What management involves
Where the assessment points to a neck or muscular driver, care usually combines hands-on treatment of the upper neck and surrounding muscle with range and strength work.
Alongside that, the boring factors matter: sleep, hydration, screen breaks, jaw habits and how many hours you hold one position. Tracking frequency for a few weeks is often the fastest way to see whether anything is changing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cervicogenic headache?
It is a headache referred from structures in the neck — joints, muscles or nerves in the upper cervical spine. It typically affects one side, starts at the base of the skull, and is reproduced or eased by neck movement and positions.
Can chiropractic treat migraines?
Migraine is managed medically. Chiropractic care does not treat migraine itself, though addressing an accompanying neck component may help reduce overall symptom load for some people. Migraine care should be led by your GP or a neurologist.
How many headaches is too many?
If headaches are affecting work, sleep or mood, or if you are reaching for pain relief regularly, that is worth investigating. Frequent use of over-the-counter analgesia can itself contribute to headaches, which is a conversation to have with your GP.
When should I see a doctor instead?
Immediately for a sudden severe headache unlike any before, headache with fever or neck rigidity, headache after a head injury, or any new neurological symptoms. Those need medical assessment, not manual therapy.
Last reviewed by Dr Corey Williams, Chiropractor. This page is general information, not individual health advice.
Get your headaches assessed
Book an assessment at the Currambine clinic and find out what is actually going on.