Frequent headaches? Learn how neck tension contributes to headaches and how physical therapy and acupuncture in Brooklyn NYC can provide long-term relief by treating the root cause.
Not all headaches originate in the brain. Many actually begin in the cervical spine (neck) and surrounding muscles.
These are called cervicogenic headaches, and they occur when:
Neck joints become stiff or restricted
Muscles become tight and overactive
Nerves in the upper cervical spine become irritated
Pain is then referred from the neck to the head, often mimicking migraines or tension headaches.
The upper neck (C1–C3 vertebrae) is closely connected to the nerves that supply the head.
When there is:
Muscle tightness (upper trapezius, levator scapulae, suboccipitals)
Joint restriction
Poor posture (forward head position)