Cervicogenic headache is a relatively common cause of chronic headache that is often misdiagnosed or unrecognized. Symptoms can be similar to that of the more commonly encountered headache disorders such as migraine or tension-type headaches.

Early diagnosis and management can significantly decrease time and cost if treatment and disability often associated with this challenging pain disorder.


The prevalence of cervicogenic headache in the general population is estimated to be as high as 20% of patients with chronic headache.¹ This means that one 1 in 5 people suffering from chronic headaches may be suffering from cervicogenic headaches - and may have been misdiagnosed.

• Pain on just one side of the head or face
• Pain localized to the back or side of the head or around the eye
• Moderate to severe pain intensity
• Intermittent attacks of pain lasting hours to days
• Constant pain with occasional attacks of pain
• Pain is generally deep and non-throbbing
• Head pain is triggered by neck movement of sustained or awkward neck positions
• Restricted active and passive neck range of motion; neck stiffness
• Associated signs and symptoms can be similar to migraine including:
  
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • blurred vision, neck, shoulder or arm pain

Physical and manual modes of therapy are important in the treatment and rehabilitation of cervicogenic headache.²

A study of the effectiveness of manipulation for the treatment of cervicogenic headache found that patients of any age, gender, or headache chronicity with moderate to severe pain intensity could benefit from manipulation.³

These finding suggests that all patients with cervicogenic headache could benefit from manual modes of therapy - like chiropractic care - and physical conditioning.

Another study comparing an exercise program with manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache reported substantial and sustained reductions of headache frequency and intensity when the treatment modalities are combined.⁴

Cervicogenic headache is a relatively common cause of chronic headache that is often misdiagnosed or unrecognized. Symptoms can be similar to that of the more commonly encountered headaches such as migraine or tension-type headaches.

Early diagnosis and management by way of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary pain treatment program - including chiropractic care and exercise - can significantly decrease the protracted course of costly treatment and disability.

1. Haldeman S, Dagenais S. Cervicogenicheadaches: a critical review. Spine J. 2001;1(1):31-46.

2. Nilsson N, Christensen HW, Hartvigsen J. The effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of cervicogenic headache. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1997;20:326- 330.

3. Jull GA, Stanton WR. Predictors of responsiveness to physiotherapy management of cervicogenic headache. Cephalalgia. 2005:25:101-108.

4. Jull G, Trott P, Potter H, Zito G, Niere K, Shirley D, et al. A randomized controlled trial of exercise and manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache. Spine. 2002;27:1835-1843.