 | | CERVICOGENIC HEADACHE
Cervicogenic headache is defined as a headache that starts on one side or the other of the neck and head. Often times this begins with pain at the base of the skull and frequently affects the side, top or front of the head. Most commonly, cervicogenic occurs after a blow to the head or whiplash-type injury but also may be secondary to joint problems in the upper part of the neck or poor posture, commonly forward head posture.
Common symptoms for cervicogenic headache may include:
- Neck and head pain that begins on one side or the other and may go to both sides
- Nausea, dizziness and occasional vomiting
- Ringing in the ears or fullness in the ears
- Blurry vision/sparkly lights in the vision (photopsias)
- Facial/jaw pain, tingling and numbness
- Difficulty swallowing, fullness in the throat or change in voice qualityand tone
Recent research by Gwen Jull, PT of Queensland, Australia, on failed whiplash headache patients suggest that small muscles that live in front of the neck bones and behind the throat stabilize cervical joint motion and are injured and become weak when the neck problems develop. With rehabilitation of these muscle groups there was a 78% improvement in the failed whiplash headache patients.
Our program at Associates In Physical Therapy is based on evaluative physical therapy for reproduction of the cervicogenic headache symptoms during assessment of the upper cervical spine. If the cervicogenic headache fits the criteria outlined by Gwen Jull, cervical stabilization activities for neuromuscular re-education of the muscles that stabilize the cervical spine are undertaken.
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