Did You Know 80% of Headaches Start in the Neck?
/Did You Know 80% of Headaches Start in the Neck?
Understanding the Neck–Headache Connection and How Chiropractic Can Help
If you suffer from headaches, you’re not alone. Headaches are among the most common nervous system disorders in the world. But here’s something many people don’t realize studies show that up to 80% of headaches actually start in the neck. That nagging tension in your neck or shoulders that you brushed off days ago may be the root cause of the pounding headache you’re feeling now.
Let’s explore how this happens, what the research says, and how chiropractic care can help relieve the pain and restore balance.
The Neck–Headache Connection
The most common type of headache with a neck-related origin is called a cervicogenic headache. These headaches stem from dysfunction in the cervical spine the vertebrae in your neck and are often accompanied by restricted movement, muscle tension, and pain radiating from the neck to the head.
According to the American Migraine Foundation, “Cervicogenic headaches are secondary headaches, meaning they’re caused by another physical issue in this case, a problem in the neck.” This could include misaligned vertebrae (subluxations), irritated nerves, or tight muscles in the neck and upper back.
A 2014 review published in The Journal of Headache and Pain reinforced the link between the neck and chronic headache conditions, emphasizing that cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction plays a major role in headache onset and persistence.
How It Begins
The cycle often starts subtly. Poor posture, stress, long hours at a desk, old sports injuries, or even sleeping in an awkward position can cause tension or misalignments in the cervical spine. These issues might seem minor at first a stiff neck here, a sore shoulder there but when left uncorrected, they can begin to irritate the nerves and strain the muscles that support your head. Over time, that tension builds, spreads upward, and turns into a full-blown headache.
The Role of Subluxations
In chiropractic care, we refer to slight misalignments of the spinal bones as subluxations. These can interfere with nerve communication, reduce mobility, and lead to muscle tightness and inflammation all factors that contribute to headaches and other types of pain.
When the vertebrae in your neck are not moving properly, your body must compensate. That overcompensation causes additional strain in nearby tissues and can trigger a headache. By gently correcting these misalignments through chiropractic adjustments, we help relieve the nerve interference and reduce the muscular tension that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Chiropractic Adjustments: A Natural Solution
Multiple studies have shown chiropractic adjustments to be effective in treating headaches, especially those related to the neck. A review published in Spine (2001) found that spinal manipulation “is an effective treatment for tension-type headaches and those that originate from the neck.” Another study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (1995) found that patients who received chiropractic care had a significant decrease in the frequency and intensity of their headaches compared to those who took medication.
Chiropractic care is non-invasive and drug-free, making it a safe and natural choice for people looking to manage their headaches without relying on medication.
Beyond the Adjustment
In addition to chiropractic adjustments, we often recommend:
Postural corrections and ergonomic changes
Stretching and strengthening exercises for the neck and shoulders
Stress-reducing practices like deep breathing or gentle movement
Massage or soft tissue therapy to release tight muscles
When we approach headaches as a whole-body issue, we see much better, longer-lasting results.
Listen to Your Body
If you’ve been dealing with chronic headaches and also experience stiffness, discomfort, or fatigue in your neck or shoulders, it may be time to look a little deeper. Your headaches could be the body’s way of asking for help and chiropractic care may be the answer you’ve been missing.
Let’s work together to get to the root of your headaches and get you feeling like yourself again.
Schedule an appointment today and take the first step toward a clearer head and a healthier spine.
Credible Sources:
American Migraine Foundation. “Cervicogenic Headaches.”
Biondi, D. M. (2005). “Physical treatments for headache: A structured review.” Headache
Vernon, H. (1995). “Spinal manipulation and headache: An evidence-based approach.” Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Bronfort, G., et al. (2001). “Efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic headache.” Spine