Headaches
When headaches keep interrupting your work, sleep and patience, it is worth finding out whether your neck or jaw is driving them. Our assessment works that out - and if physiotherapy can help, we will show you exactly how.
Your care, at a glance
The questions worth asking any clinic — answered up front.
Who you'll see
Cooper's particular interests include headaches and jaw dysfunction alongside neck and shoulder problems — ask for him by name when booking if headaches are your main issue.
How we assess it
Careful differential assessment first: we establish whether your headache pattern is one physiotherapy can help (neck- or jaw-driven), and refer on when it isn't. Then we examine the upper neck joints, muscle function and — where relevant — jaw mechanics.
How we treat it
Manual therapy for the upper neck joints combined with specific strengthening of the deep neck muscles, jaw treatment where indicated, and practical load and posture strategies for desk-heavy weeks — working alongside your GP, never replacing them.
When you progress
- Headache frequency and intensity tracked and trending down
- Deep neck flexor endurance targets met on re-testing
- Trigger tolerance restored: work, screens, training
- A self-management routine that keeps it that way
The evidence behind this approach
The landmark randomised trial for neck-driven headache found specific exercise and manipulative therapy reduced headache frequency and intensity, with benefits maintained at 12 months (Jull et al., Spine 2002). Our assessment approach exists to find the patients that evidence applies to — and to be honest with the ones it doesn't.
Why it happens
Not all headaches start in the head. Cervicogenic headaches are driven by the upper joints and muscles of the neck, referring pain to the base of the skull, the temple or behind the eye - often one-sided, and typically worse with certain neck positions or long desk days. Tension-type headaches, the most common kind, are frequently linked with neck and shoulder muscle tension, stress and fatigue.
The jaw can contribute too. Clenching, grinding and other temporomandibular (TMJ) problems are a common and often overlooked source of head and face pain. Migraine is a different condition again, though many people with migraine also have neck involvement that adds to the overall picture.
How we assess it
The first job is working out what kind of headache you have, because that determines whether physiotherapy will help. We take a careful history - pattern, location, triggers and behaviour - and screen for the uncommon headaches that need medical review instead.
Then we examine the likely physical drivers: the movement of your upper neck joints, the strength and endurance of the deep muscles that support your head, your neck movement sense, and your jaw where clenching or jaw symptoms are part of the story. Cooper Peacock, one of our physiotherapists, has a special interest in headache and jaw disorders.
How we treat it
Where your neck is contributing, treatment combines manual therapy for the upper neck joints with specific strengthening for the deep neck muscles and shoulder girdle. We also use laser proprioceptive retraining - a head-mounted laser giving real-time feedback - to restore the precise neck control that is often lost in people with persistent headache. Dry needling can help release the muscle tension that feeds tension-type headaches.
For jaw-related headaches we treat the jaw directly, alongside habits like clenching and grinding. And because stress, workload, sleep and screen time all feed into headache, we help you address the load side of the equation, not just the tissue side.
Working alongside your doctor
Physiotherapy does not replace medical care for headaches. Some types need a GP or specialist, and we will tell you plainly if yours does. But for neck-related and tension-type headaches, and as part of a broader plan for people with migraine, physiotherapy has a genuine, evidence-supported role. We are happy to work alongside your GP, dentist or neurologist.
Getting back to what you love
Fewer headache days means more of everything else: clear-headed work, patient parenting, training without paying for it afterwards. We treat office workers, students, athletes and retirees with the same assessment-first approach we have refined over more than 35 years.
Book online through HotDoc at our Adelaide CBD or Edwardstown clinic - no referral needed, with HICAPS available for on-the-spot claims.
Frequently asked questions
Can physiotherapy really help headaches?
Yes, for the right types. Headaches driven by the neck or jaw, and tension-type headaches, often respond well to physiotherapy. Our assessment works out whether yours fits that pattern, and we will tell you honestly if it does not.
How do I know if my headache is coming from my neck?
Common clues include one-sided pain starting at the base of the skull, headaches triggered by neck positions or long desk days, and neck stiffness alongside the headache. A physical assessment of your upper neck can confirm it.
Do you treat jaw (TMJ) problems?
Yes. Cooper Peacock at our clinic has a special interest in headache and jaw disorders, and jaw problems are a common contributor to head and face pain.
Do I need a referral to see a physio for headaches?
No. You can book directly online through HotDoc at our Adelaide CBD or Edwardstown clinics, or call (08) 8410 5666.