Cervicogenic Headache Care
Headaches Linked to Neck Tension
If your headaches start at the base of your skull, worsen with screen time, or are accompanied by neck stiffness, the source is often your cervical spine — not your head. We treat the cause, not just the symptom.
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Most Chronic Headaches Have a Cervical Component
The upper three cervical joints refer pain to the head, temple, and even behind the eyes. Physiotherapy that targets these joints — not just the muscles — produces lasting relief.
Book AssessmentUnderstanding the Condition
What Causes Headaches Linked to Neck Tension
Cervicogenic Headache
Originating from the upper cervical joints (C1-C3), these headaches typically start at the base of the skull and radiate forward. They worsen with neck movement or sustained postures.
Tension-Type Headache with Cervical Component
Tight sub-occipital, upper trapezius, and levator scapulae muscles refer pain over the skull — often triggered by stress, poor posture, or prolonged screen use.
Forward Head Posture
Every centimetre your head sits forward of your shoulders adds significant load to the cervical joints and muscles, compressing C1-C3 structures that refer to the head.
Facet Joint Irritation
Stiffness or inflammation in the upper cervical facet joints — often from sustained laptop postures, poor sleep positions, or a history of whiplash — drives chronic headache patterns.
Trigger Points in Suboccipital Muscles
The four small muscles at the base of the skull commonly develop active trigger points that refer pain directly into the head and behind the eyes.
Myofascial Restriction
Fascial tightness from the shoulders and thoracic spine can feed tension up into the neck and head, particularly in those with desk-based roles.
How we treat it
The KINETIKA Approach
We assess upper cervical mobility, joint tenderness, muscle tension patterns, and provocation tests to confirm the cervical source of your headaches.
Targeted manual therapy to the upper cervical spine to restore joint mobility, reduce referral patterns, and break the pain cycle.
Hands-on treatment of the suboccipital muscles, upper traps, and levator scapulae to reduce muscular contribution to headache frequency and intensity.
Deep neck flexor strengthening and thoracic mobility work to address the postural drivers — so headaches stay away long term.
Take the next step
Book Your Initial Assessment
Frequent headaches that no one has been able to explain may have a cervical origin. We assess the neck thoroughly and build a treatment plan that addresses the actual source.
No referral · Same-week appointments · Dubai Hills
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