Headache Physiotherapy Adelaide | Watson Headache Certified Practitioners
Did you know that one in three people experience a headache at least once a month? Or that one in seven suffer from migraines on a regular basis?
So, what are the treatment options? Many people are eventually prescribed medication, but it doesn’t always work. When it doesn’t, you might be advised to “just avoid the triggers,” but with so many potential triggers, it can be difficult to manage.
We offer another solution! The Watson Headache Approach is a system designed to assess and treat the upper cervical spine (the top three vertebrae of your neck) in relation to headaches and migraines. This approach focuses on identifying and addressing mechanical dysfunctions in the neck that may contribute to headache symptoms, including pain, dizziness, and nausea.
Our goal is to help people regain their quality of life by reducing headaches or migraines and giving them control over their well-being. This approach may even help reduce the need for medication.
Book an appointment with our Watson Headache Certified Physiotherapist today
What is the Watson Headache Approach?
It’s not just about the techniques we use; it’s a system designed to assess whether the neck is involved and, if so, which levels of the neck may be contributing. One of the challenges with headaches and migraines is that it’s not always obvious if the neck is a factor, which is why we have this system to determine if it is.
The upper neck could be involved in your headache because of:
- Poor posture at the desk, whether this is at work or home
- Sustained, awkward positions doing hobbies like sewing or cooking
- Sustained, awkward, repeated movements such as painting a roof
- Prolonged stress or emotional tension
- Trauma to the neck or head (due to a car accident, contact sport as a child)
- Hormonal changes
Our team includes a Watson Headache Certified physiotherapist, Kate, trained in the Watson Headache Approach.
Meet Our Watson Headache Certified Practitioner
Kate is a warm and empathetic physiotherapist with a passion for improving the lives of her patients. She believes in creating an environment where her patients feel heard, empowered, and supported.
Kate practices as a Level 3 certified Watson Headache Practitioner. Kate brings her expertise in headache and migraine management, focusing on providing effective strategies to help her patients live headache-free.
Outside of her professional life, Kate enjoys spending time with her husband and their Labrador, Max, exploring the scenic Adelaide Hills and travelling overseas whenever the opportunity arises. She values catching up with family and friends, attending her favourite group exercise gym and sitting in front of the fire with a red wine!
Certifications:
✓ Watson Headache Certified Practitioners
✓ Evidence-Based Cervicogenic Headache Treatment
Book an appointment with our Watson Headache Certified Physiotherapist today
What Causes Headaches?
Unfortunately, there’s no one answer to this question. Headaches, like most pain-related issues in the brain, are caused by a multitude of factors. This can include a combination of the following things:
- The muscles and joints in the neck. This is more often than not caused by a build-up of
- Poor ergonomics at work, or a high volume of sitting that causes overload in the upper
- Back and neck joints and muscles (cervical spine and thoracic spine)
- Referral from the muscles in the jaw or head
- Hormones (some headaches might have links to your monthly cycle, or other hormone
- imbalances)
- Allergies
- Dehydration
- Stress and anxiety (even due to lifestyle or financial issues)
- Vision issues
- More sinister issues, such as tumours and head/neck pathology.
How does the neck impact headaches?
The Watson Headache® Approach reveals that many headaches and migraines are caused by a “sensitised brainstem.” The brainstem, located in the top three vertebrae of the neck, is responsible for processing sensory information from the body, including input from the neck, face, and head.
Normally, the brainstem filters and interprets these sensory signals before sending them to the brain. However, when the brainstem becomes sensitised, it amplifies pain signals or misinterprets normal sensations as painful.
This means that what would typically be a normal sensation, such as neck or head movements, muscle tension, or postural changes, could trigger referred pain—where discomfort or pain in one area (like the neck) is felt in another (such as the head).
For instance, dysfunction in the upper cervical spine can send signals to the brainstem that are interpreted as headache pain, even when the actual issue lies in the neck.
Book an appointment with our Watson Headache Certified Physiotherapist today
What does the treatment involve?
The Watson Headache® Approach is based on scientific research and has been shown to reduce the underlying sensitivity in the brainstem associated with headaches and migraines.
The treatment is non-invasive, using gentle, non-manipulative techniques that do not involve cracking or manipulating the neck. This makes it suitable for individuals seeking drug-free and non-invasive solutions. By focusing on the upper cervical spine, the approach addresses the root cause of headaches, potentially leading to long-term relief rather than merely masking symptoms.
Different joints and muscles in your upper neck, near the base of the skull, refer pain in different areas in your skull. For example, one joint typically gives pain behind the eyes, whilst another gives pain over the brow and forehead.
Finding the source of the stiffness and tension headaches and addressing it can help alleviate the referral to your head, and help reduce the severity or frequency of your headache symptoms in the short term.
As treatment progresses, it often includes exercises to strengthen the supporting muscles and improve posture, which can help prevent headaches from recurring.
The Watson headache approach involves a variety of different techniques aimed at the upper neck and surrounding muscles
Exercise For Long-Term Headache Relief
Outside of hands-on physiotherapy treatment to provide short-term relief, addressing associated stiff or weak neck and upper back is a key component in getting a great long-term outcome. The stronger and more mobile your upper back, the less force your neck has to withstand and the less likely you’ll experience head and neck pain.
Some clients will have a stiff back, but good strength. Others will have good mobility, but poor strength and endurance. Some even have both, whilst others have neither!
With chronic headache sufferers, we endeavour to have both. If we can give a client adequate mobility and a high level of postural and upper back strength, we’re likely to get the best outcome possible!
Why Do Strength And Mobility Matter?
Someone with a strong and mobile upper back can hold their head in prolonged postures for a longer period of time without putting undue stress on the ligaments and joints in their neck. The muscles support the neck for a longer period of time before the neck starts to be exposed to the forces that eventually cause head and neck pain.
Mobility in the upper back works in a similar fashion. If we have an upper back with enough mobility, the neck can twist and move with the freedom it needs without being exposed to increased force.
With a stiff upper back, the neck becomes more restricted in its range of motion and is exposed to higher forces during movement and day-to-day life.
Book an appointment with our Watson Headache Certified Physiotherapist today
How Posture Affects Migraines and Headaches
Our head is heavy, and it becomes heavier the more we look down or stick our necks out. When we look at the picture below, we can see that in a nice upright position, the weight of the head on the neck is approximately 4kg.
As we tilt our head to look down, even slightly, the head becomes heavier, increasing incrementally the longer and further we look down. This means there’s significantly more strain on the discs, joints, ligaments and muscles in your neck that are being exposed to all this increased load.
If our posture is poor for a short time, no big deal. But poor posture for extended periods, in particular forward head posture in headache and migraine sufferers, is a major factor in the development of neck pain and neck-related headaches and migraines.
We’re asking the tissues and structures in our neck to cope with loads that they can’t withstand for that amount of time, which results in neck pain and back pain that can lead to headaches and migraines.
What do our patients say about our headache treatment?
Client Case Study
Chronic Migraine Relief with Watson Headache Approach
Patient Profile:
- Name: “Kendel” (Adelaide office worker, 34)
- Condition: 20-year history of migraines since her teenage years (at least once a week), diagnosed with migraines and “living off her migraine medications”
- Kendel wanted to see if there was another option to taking this medication every week for the rest of her life.
Treatment:
- Initial assessment using the Watson Headache Approach identified this as a cervicogenic headache presentation.
- Gentle manual therapy to address the dysfunction in her upper neck and some home exercises for posture.
Results:
- 50% reduction in migraine frequency after 4 sessions.
- After 8 weeks: 1–2 mild headaches/month.
Kendel’s Quote: “I finally have my life back. Thrive Physio’s expertise in cervicogenic headaches changed everything! I can sleep well, I am focusing better at work and I have energy to go out with my friends again for coffee!”
The Key Takeaways
If you’ve been battling with chronic headaches and migraine for years, physiotherapy can help you. Importantly, they can help ensure that nothing sinister is driving your head pain, while helping to get to the root cause of your headache and migraine symptoms.
We can then safely work with you to provide you with strategies and treatment techniques that often provide relief or resolution, and as Watson Headache Practitioners, we specialise in personalised headache relief. Patience is key in managing these conditions, so seek help and stay the course.
If you’d like to know how we can reduce your headaches or migraines, book a time online or call our Adelaide clinic on 8490 0777 to start your journey to better health today.
Alternatively, fill out the enquiry form below and we’ll contact you as soon as possible.
Book an appointment with our Watson Headache Certified Physiotherapist today
Frequently asked questions
How does the Watson Headache Approach Treat Cervicogenic Headaches?
The Watson Headache Approach is a system for assessing and treating the upper neck in relation to headache and migraine conditions. This approach focuses on identifying and treating mechanical dysfunctions in the neck with gentle, hands-on treatment techniques.
Is the Watson Headache Approach covered by health insurance, and what are the costs involved?
The Watson headache approach is a private health fund claimable if you have physiotherapy extras cover. To find out the exact cost of your initial consultation, call one of our friendly team at the clinic on 8490 0777.
How many sessions will I need to see improvement in my headache symptoms?
As little as four treatments to start seeing a significant improvement in headaches!
How many sessions will I need to see results?
In your 5th session, we will evaluate whether you have had a significant enough change in your symptoms to justify continuing the Watson Headache Approach.