Cervicogenic headache(CGH)

What You Need to Know About Cervicogenic Headache

The cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache and is usually a musculoskeletal dysfunction-first three cervical segments of the spine are most often involved. The pain usually starts at the base of the skull or at the back of the head and goes towards the anterior side, sometimes even reaching up to the forehead. Many patients describe pain traveling from the neck to one or more areas of the face or scalp.

Cervicogenic Headache vs Migraine: How to Differentiate?

One of the major diagnostic difficulties in headaches is to decide whether it is cervicogenic headache or not, more so with neck migraine. In fact, studies have shown that this cannot be decided properly in over half of the cases (Hall, 2007). Both CGH and migraines do cause neck pain and headache and that makes them very easy to confuse.

A headache accompanied by visual auras is a classic migraine condition. Such auras consist of visual disturbances like flickering lights, spots, or zigzag lines, which may be accompanied by neurological signs such as numbness or pins and needles. Usually, such signs and symptoms are fleeting and reversible, going on for less than an hour (Kirchman, 2006). On the other hand, CGH is a headache without an aura and is usually associated with physical neck dysfunction.

How Physiotherapy Helps in Managing Cervicogenic Headache

In managing cervicogenic headache, physiotherapy is one of the best methods. The physiotherapist will undertake a careful assessment investigating whether your symptoms correspond with CGH, including an examination of restricted movements, muscular imbalances, and dysfunctions of the upper cervical joints.

Manual Therapy

Manual therapies like joint mobilizations and massage are highly effective for pain relief. Mobilizing the cervical spine will reduce pressure on the joints and may reduce nerve irritation. These techniques are much more powerful if combined with postural correction exercises so that the neck and upper back muscles learn how to maintain proper alignment.

Exercises

A personalized set of exercises will be introduced for restoring normal movement and posture. General exercises include:

• Strengthening the deep neck flexor muscles
• Exercises to stretch the thoracic spine
• Cranio-cervical flexion (CCF) training
• Reseating of scapular muscles and
• Postural correction exercises for awareness and to lessen stress on the cervical spine.

These movements, when consistently practiced, can help to make the body better at supporting the head and neck and result in the resolution of symptoms such as headache at base of skull and forehead.

Role of Posture and Lifestyle

Poor posture is the leading cause of most neck pain and headaches. The most common posture includes some degree of forward head posture and rounded shoulder position. Long hours of sitting, standing, and working on devices tend to add strain on the neck muscles and joints hence, headache symptoms are triggered or aggravated.

Postural correction exercises help solve these root causes. They train the body in posture maintenance, muscle engagement, and avoiding stress-painful positions. This alleviates any current symptom and keeps them from recurring.

Cervicogenic Headache and Sleeping: Is Your Sleeping Posture a Cause?

Many cervicogenic headache sufferers complain that their symptoms worsen after waking. This may be due to making cervicogenic headache sleeping posture mistakes such as too-high a pillow or neck-gargling position. Neutral neck alignment should be maintained during sleep. Back support pillows and ergonomic pillows help reduce overnight strain and minimize morning headaches.

When To Seek Help

If you have headache back of head, stiffness, persistent neck pain and headaches, then it is time to seek a physiotherapist. Timely identification and treatment of CGH can prevent its chronic nature and lead to an enhanced quality of life.