If you are always feeling headaches along with your neck stiffness, chances are that they might be cervicogenic headaches.
What are cervicogenic headaches?
Cervicogenic headaches are headaches that originate from the cervical spine or neck. They are
classified as secondary headaches because they are typically caused by other issues such as neck stiffness, arthritis, or nerve compression. What happens is that the pain receptors in the neck are firing due to tension in the spine, causing a referred pain throughout the eyes and front of head. Cervicogenic headaches can also cause pain in the arms, as well as reduced range of motion in the neck.
What can be done about these headaches?
As the headaches are caused by tension in the neck and spine, stretching to help relax the neck can aid in relieving these headaches. If the headaches still persist, a physiotherapist may use some manual therapy and soft tissue massage techniques to help release the tension within the neck. Finally, preventative measures such as maintaining good posture and strengthening frontal neck muscles may help offload the back of the neck and prevent tension build up in the spine.
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