Can neck pain cause headaches?

It’s true, neck pain can cause headaches and even pain in neighboring areas of the body. Someone with neck pain might experience not just headaches but shoulder, arm and upper back pain, too. Nearly 10% to 20% of the world’s population experiences neck pain at any given moment. With such a significant number of people experiencing neck pain comes a large number of reports of pain in areas adjacent to the neck. Are you experiencing neck pain with headaches? Read on to learn more about the conditions that can cause it and how physical therapy can help.

What conditions might cause neck pain and headaches?

There are a variety of conditions that can lead a person to experience neck pain and headaches. Some of these include:

• Whiplash — Whiplash is a type of injury in which the head and neck are moved forward and backward too quickly, like during an automobile accident. Whiplash, although mostly known to occur during car accidents, can occur during any type of impact that suddenly causes the head to move forward and backward. The symptoms of whiplash are usually pain, stiffness, and discomfort in the neck and shoulders. When a person sustains this type of injury, the muscles, vertebrae, nerves and other tissue can be affected. Muscle injuries in the neck and shoulders from collisions can lead a person to develop tension-related headaches.

• Pinched nerves — Another possible cause of neck pain and headaches is a compressed nerve in the neck. Pinched or compressed nerves occur when tissue like bone, muscle, cartilage or a tendon pushes against a nerve. Most people with pinched nerves feel pain, numbness and tingling sensations somewhere along the length of the nerve, but not always where the nerve is actually being compressed. When a nerve that runs through the neck becomes compressed, it can cause head pains, which are called occipital neuralgia. Headaches caused by occipital neuralgia can feel extreme and cause sharp pains.

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction — TMJ dysfunction is a term used to refer to a condition where the joints in the jaw become inflamed or painful to use. It’s usually the result of strain on the joint from excessive chewing, talking, or grinding the teeth. Traumatic impacts to the jaw or head can also cause TMJ dysfunction. The most common symptoms of TMJ dysfunction include facial pain, stiff muscles, popping or clicking sounds from the jaw, and misalignment in the jaw. When someone experiences muscle tension in the head, neck and jaw from TMJ problems, it can also lead to neck pain and headaches.

• Poor posture — Poor posture can cause unnecessary strain on the muscles of the neck, leading to increased tension and, as a result, headaches. Addressing posture as well as weakness associated with poor posture can reduce the amount of strain put on the neck and thus resolve these types of headaches.

How can a physical therapist improve someone’s neck pain and related headaches?

Physical therapy can be an effective tool for someone hoping to experience relief from their neck pain and headaches. Here are some of the ways that a physical therapist can improve your condition:

• Manual therapy — Manual therapy is a popular technique among physical therapists for improving a variety of conditions, including neck pain and headaches. In particular, manual therapy can be effective in improving muscle tension that contributes to this type of pain. Muscle tension related to whiplash, a pinched nerve and TMJ dysfunction may all be improved with manual therapy. Your physical therapist will first identify the source of your neck pain and headaches, then determine if it can be improved with manual techniques. It may take several sessions of therapy for you to see improvements in your muscle tension, but this technique can likely provide significant benefits to your condition.

• Dry needling — Dry needling is another physical therapy technique that can be used to relieve neck pain and related headaches. This technique can also be helpful for pain that’s rooted in muscle tension or an injury. It works by inserting small, hollow needles through the skin into the muscles. Dry needling helps areas of painful and inflamed tissue receive more oxygen and increase blood flow. This oxygen can help relieve pain and swelling and encourage the healing process to occur faster.

• IASTM — Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a type of physical therapy performed using a specialized tool to break up areas of dense or tight tissue and around stiff joints. IASTM uses stainless steel to rub over tissue, creating friction that promotes blood flow, healing and mobility. This technique can promote healing in an area of neck tissue that may contribute to headaches.

Let Advent Physical Therapy improve your neck pain and headaches

If you’re experiencing neck pain or headaches that interfere with your ability to comfortably carry out daily activities, our physical therapists can help. At Advent Physical Therapy, we use a variety of evidence-based PT treatments, like manual therapy and IASTM, to help our patients with neck pain and headaches manage and improve their physical condition.

Our patients’ health and wellness are our first priority at Advent Physical Therapy. We understand how much getting back your mobility can mean. When it comes to improving your neck and head pain, we can help. Our clinic has some of the best physical therapists who want to help you reach your health objectives. We’re a team-oriented group of professionals who work with each of our patients to create the best possible outcomes.

We can create a treatment plan to optimize your health. We value building relationships with our patients. That’s why helping them improve their health is a priority. We can provide a free screening to help you.

Call us or request an appointment today to address your neck pain and related headaches.