Headaches
Headaches & Cervicogenic Pain — North Vancouver
Tension at the temples, a band around the head, pain that climbs from the neck into the skull. We treat the headache types that physio can actually move — and tell you when it's something else.
What it is
Understanding your tension / cervicogenic headache.
Headaches come in flavours, and the flavour matters. Tension-type headaches are the dull, band-around-the-head kind that build through a long day at the screen. Cervicogenic headaches start at the base of the skull or the upper neck and refer pain up into the temples or behind the eye. Migraines are a different beast — vascular and neurological — though the neck often participates as a trigger. Cluster, sinus, and post-concussion headaches each have their own pattern.
Physio is well-suited to the first two. We can usually help the neck-and-muscle component of migraine, but the migraine itself is a medical management problem. Part of the first assessment is sorting out which headache type is driving your case so the plan matches the diagnosis.
Most tension and cervicogenic headaches we see share a small set of culprits — upper-cervical joint stiffness, an overworked suboccipital and upper trapezius group, a jaw quietly clenching through the workday, and a workstation set up for someone two inches taller. Treating those together is what tends to move the pattern.
What to expect
Tension and cervicogenic headaches often start moving within the first 3–6 sessions when the right drivers are addressed. Migraine-dominant cases respond more slowly and usually need parallel physician input. Your physiotherapist will set the next milestone after assessment and refer on if findings warrant it.
Get a plan
Not sure if we're the right fit?
Send us a quick note about what's going on. A physiotherapist — not a receptionist — will read it and reply with what they'd recommend. No commitment to book.
Common questions
About tension / cervicogenic headache.
How do I know if my headache is from my neck?+
A cervicogenic headache usually has a side preference, is reproducible by pressing on or moving the upper cervical spine, and often arrives with neck stiffness. It typically does not include aura, nausea to migraine severity, or significant light/sound sensitivity. The first assessment screens for these features.
Will manipulation 'crack' my neck?+
Not unless it's clearly indicated, you're comfortable with it, and consent is explicit. Gentler mobilizations achieve a lot of what high-velocity manipulation does, especially in the upper cervical region. We default to the lowest-force technique that produces the result.
I get migraines. Can you help?+
We can help with the neck and muscle contributors that often co-exist with migraine and act as triggers. We don't replace medical migraine management. If you're not already working with a physician on migraine, we'll suggest that pathway and run in parallel.
When should a headache get checked by a physician same-day?+
A sudden, severe 'worst-ever' headache, headache with fever, stiff neck, vision changes, weakness, confusion, or one that wakes you from sleep — those are physician or 911 calls, not physio bookings.
Do you direct-bill extended health?+
Yes. Direct billing for most major extended-health insurers, plus ICBC and WorkSafeBC.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual presentations vary — assessment findings and treatment plans differ from person to person. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, neurological changes (numbness, weakness, bowel or bladder changes), or a significant trauma, contact your physician or emergency services. Physiotherapy at Medstar Sport Physio & Health is provided by physiotherapists registered with the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC).