Cervicogenic headaches are often misdiagnosed as simply a headache with neck pain, when really this condition is an underlying issue of neurological disorder or disease in the neck that causes the headache. If you stand up tall with your back against the wall and your head is tilted forward away from the wall, then you may occasionally suffer from cervicogenic headaches.

This forward position of the neck causes extra strain on the muscles. But what can you do on your own to help keep your neck out of that forward position? We’ll cover two easy tips that you can use today to help prevent cervicogenic headaches.

1. Take a break from the desk

The modern American workplace is not good for posture. Most of us sit or stand hunched over a computer desk staring at a screen for good portions of our day. In this hunched over position the shoulders are slumped, the back is rounded and the neck is tilted forward.

Prolonged durations in this position causes extra strain on the muscles in the neck and may eventually cause the vertebrae in the neck to shift forward.

Aim to take a break from the screen every 15 to 20 minutes or so. Get up and walk around to stretch, but stay away from your phone, as most people resume the hunched over position when they are glued to their phones.

2. Give yoga a chance

Though it may seem like just stretching on a foam mat, the benefits of yoga are impressive, including:

• Increased range of motion
• Decreased stress levels
• Improved respiration
• Reduction of injury chance

But how, precisely, can yoga help with cervicogenic headaches? Yoga is not a single routine of stretches and breathing exercises. There are entire sets of poses and postures explicitly designed to relax muscles in the neck and spine. Reducing the tension and soreness of the muscles in your neck can help alleviate the cause of cervicogenic headaches.

Treating cervicogenic headaches with physical therapy

While cervicogenic headaches may not cause literal pain in the neck, dealing with them on a daily basis can be. Doing simple things to improve your posture may help, but sometimes physical therapy is necessary to fully address the issue and help you regain your life.

Physical therapists specialize in a wide range of treatments that can help reduce and prevent cervicogenic headaches, including:

• Therapeutic exercises
• Gentle stretches
• Soft tissue mobilization
• Joint mobilization
• Posture guidance and more

Visit Rehab Access for headache treatment

If you are considering physical therapy treatment for your headaches, our team is here for you. We can examine your condition and guide you through a personalized treatment routine to help you recover. Contact our team today for more information about treating headache pain or to schedule an initial appointment.