Headaches are among the most common health complaints there are, and most of us will experience them from time to time. While the occasional headache is usually nothing to worry about, frequent or persistent headaches can wear you down and interfere with work, sleep and everyday life. At Back in Action in Penwortham, we care for people across Preston and Lancashire whose headaches are linked to tension and to problems in the neck.
Understanding headaches
There are many different types of headache, and they do not all have the same cause. Two of the most common are tension-type headaches, often described as a tight, pressing band around the head, and headaches that arise from the neck. Migraine is a distinct neurological condition with its own features, and we cover it on a separate page.
Understanding which kind of headache you are dealing with matters, because it shapes what is likely to help. Headaches that stem from the muscles and joints of the neck and upper back are the ones where hands-on care most often has a role to play.
It is also worth saying that frequent headaches are not something you simply have to put up with. When they start to affect your concentration, mood, sleep or enjoyment of life, that is a good reason to look properly at what might be driving them rather than reaching for painkillers again and again.
Headaches that come from the neck
Cervicogenic headaches — headaches that originate in the neck — are felt in the head but are driven by the joints, muscles and nerves of the cervical spine. They are often one-sided, may spread from the back of the head towards the forehead or behind the eye, and can be brought on or worsened by neck movement or sustained postures. Because the structures of the neck are closely involved, addressing the neck can be an important part of managing this kind of headache.
These headaches are easy to overlook, because the pain is felt in the head rather than the neck, and the neck itself may not be especially sore. Clues that the neck is involved include headaches that are consistently worse after long periods at a desk or screen, that tend to start on the same side, or that are accompanied by stiffness and reduced movement in the neck. Tension-type headaches share many of these features and often respond to the same practical measures.
What headaches can feel like
Headaches vary widely, but features that point towards a tension-type or neck-related headache include:
- A dull, aching or pressing pain rather than a sharp or throbbing one
- A sensation of tightness or a “band” around the head
- Pain that starts at the base of the skull or in the neck and spreads forwards
- Tightness and tenderness in the neck and shoulder muscles
- Headaches that worsen with stress, poor posture or long periods at a screen
It is common for these headaches to come and go, and to be triggered by everyday factors. Keeping a simple note of when they happen can help reveal a pattern.
Common causes and triggers
Tension-type and neck-related headaches often build from a mix of everyday factors rather than a single cause. Common contributors include:
- Posture and prolonged screen use, which loads the neck and shoulders
- Stress and muscular tension, frequently held in the neck (see stress-related tension)
- Stiffness or irritation in the joints of the neck
- Poor sleep, dehydration, skipped meals or eye strain
- Clenching or grinding, which can involve the jaw as well
Part of our assessment is working out what is contributing to your headaches, so that care and advice can be directed where they are most likely to help.
When to seek help
Most headaches are not dangerous, but some patterns need prompt medical attention. Please seek urgent help — contact your GP, call NHS 111, or in an emergency call 999 — if you experience a sudden, severe “thunderclap” headache that comes on like a clap of thunder; a headache with a fever, a stiff neck, a rash, or confusion; a headache following a blow to the head; a new or different headache if you are over 50; or a headache accompanied by weakness, numbness, visual loss, or difficulty speaking. You should also see your GP for any new, persistent or worsening headache so that a proper diagnosis can be made.
Does my headache mean something serious?
For the great majority of people, recurrent headaches are not a sign of anything sinister, even when they are frequent and miserable. They are usually driven by everyday factors — tension, posture, stress, sleep, dehydration — rather than by serious disease. Knowing this can itself be a relief, because worry about what a headache might mean can add to the tension that fuels it.
One thing worth being aware of is that relying heavily on over-the-counter painkillers can sometimes backfire. Taken too often, pain-relief medication can lead to what is known as medication-overuse headache, where the very thing being used for relief begins to perpetuate the problem. This is one reason it is worth looking at what is driving frequent headaches rather than simply masking them, and why a proper assessment can be valuable. If you are taking painkillers for headaches on most days, it is worth discussing this with your GP.
How chiropractic care can help with headaches
Chiropractors care for many people whose headaches arise from the neck, and manual therapy is recognised as having a role in managing cervicogenic headaches and in the prevention of migraine. We do not offer a cure for headaches, and we will always be clear about that. What we can do, following a thorough assessment, is address the neck-related factors that may be contributing.
Our hands-on, drug-free care may include gentle joint manipulation and mobilisation of the neck, soft-tissue work to ease muscular tension, and practical advice on posture, movement and the triggers you can influence. Where helpful, we can also draw on physiotherapy and rehabilitation exercise to build strength and resilience in the neck and shoulders. If your headaches point to a cause that needs medical input, we will recognise that and refer you appropriately.
The thinking behind this is straightforward. If stiff or irritated joints and tight muscles in the neck are contributing to your headaches, then helping those structures move and function better can reduce that contribution. For many people, the most lasting improvement comes from combining this kind of care with changes to the everyday habits that load the neck in the first place — which is why advice and self-management are as much a part of our approach as the hands-on treatment itself.
What to expect at Back in Action
Your first visit is mostly about understanding your headaches. We will take a careful history — how often they happen, what they feel like, where they start, and what seems to bring them on — and carry out a physical examination, which may include assessing your neck movement, posture and muscle and nerve function. We will explain what we have found in plain language and talk through whether chiropractic care is appropriate.
Our team includes practitioners with a range of techniques and special interests, so you can be matched to the right person and approach. You can read more on our new patients page, with current charges on the fees page. We will give you an honest sense of whether and how we expect to help, and review your progress as we go.
If your headaches are clearly neck-related, we would usually expect to have a reasonable sense of whether care is helping within a short course of treatment, rather than asking you to commit to a long, open-ended plan. If we are not making the difference we hoped for, we will tell you and reconsider the approach, including whether a referral back to your GP is the more sensible next step.
Helping yourself: self-care and prevention
There is a great deal you can do to reduce the frequency of tension-type and neck-related headaches. Practical measures that often help include:
- Setting up your screen at eye level and taking regular breaks from desk work
- Keeping the neck and shoulders gently moving rather than holding them tense
- Staying well hydrated and avoiding long gaps between meals
- Protecting your sleep and finding ways to manage stress
- Noting when your headaches occur, to help identify and reduce triggers
If you would like advice tailored to you, we can build self-care guidance into your care plan so that progress in the clinic is supported by what you do day to day. Often the most durable results come not from any single measure but from several small, sustainable changes working together over time.
Related conditions and treatments
Headaches are closely connected to other problems, and it can help to read about migraine, neck pain, upper back pain, TMJ (jaw) pain and stress-related tension. The care we provide draws on approaches such as chiropractic manipulation and exercise and rehabilitation, and may form part of a wider plan alongside our chiropractic, physiotherapy and massage services.
Take the first step
If headaches are getting in the way of your life, you do not have to simply put up with them. We are happy to talk it through and help you understand your options. You can get in touch to book an appointment, or to ask any questions before your first visit.