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Headaches
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Headache Treatment in Perth

Many headaches — including tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches — are directly treatable with physiotherapy. You don't have to just manage the symptoms.

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Headaches

Headache Treatment in Perth

Headache is one of the most common neurological symptoms, yet a significant proportion of sufferers are told to simply manage with medication, without investigation of the underlying cause. At Move Physiotherapy, we specialise in identifying and treating headaches that originate from the cervical spine and surrounding musculature.

Cervicogenic headache and tension-type headache both respond well to physiotherapy, with high-quality evidence supporting manual therapy and specific exercise as effective treatments.

Not all headaches are appropriate for physiotherapy management. Our assessment distinguishes musculoskeletal headache from migraine and headaches with potentially serious secondary causes — referring appropriately when needed.

🛡️
Satisfaction Guarantee
Have we met your expectations? If not, we will refund your out-of-pocket expense — no questions asked.
Headaches
Headaches
🛡️
Satisfaction Guarantee
Have we met your expectations? If not, we will refund your out-of-pocket expense — no questions asked.

Causes

Common Headache Types We Treat

Cervicogenic headache from upper cervical joint dysfunction (C1/2, C2/3)
Tension-type headache from pericranial muscle tension and central sensitisation
Suboccipital muscle tightness and trigger points
Forward head posture increasing cervical joint loading
Whiplash-associated headache
Post-concussion headache
Jaw (TMJ) dysfunction contributing to temporal headache

Our Approach

The Move Process

01
Headache Classification
Detailed history to classify your headache type and screen for red flags requiring medical referral before commencing treatment.
02
Upper Cervical Assessment
Specific assessment of the C1/2 and C2/3 joints and surrounding musculature to identify the cervical source of your headache.
03
Manual Therapy
Directed joint mobilisation of the upper cervical spine, combined with trigger point treatment of the suboccipital and pericranial musculature.
04
Rehabilitation & Prevention
Deep neck flexor strengthening, postural correction, and lifestyle strategies to reduce headache frequency and prevent recurrence long-term.

Why Move Physiotherapy

What sets us apart

✦
Evidence-Based Treatment
Manual therapy for cervicogenic headache is supported by Level 1 evidence from randomised controlled trials.
✦
Accurate Classification
We distinguish between headache types before commencing treatment. Treating the wrong headache type with the wrong approach wastes time and money.
✦
Satisfaction Guarantee
Have we met your expectations? If not, we will refund your out-of-pocket expense — no questions asked.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can physiotherapy really treat headaches?+
Yes — for cervicogenic and tension-type headaches, physiotherapy is supported by high-quality evidence including randomised controlled trials. Manual therapy to the upper cervical spine, combined with specific exercise, produces significant reductions in headache frequency, intensity, and duration.
How do I know if my headache is coming from my neck?+
Cervicogenic headache typically starts at the base of the skull and radiates forward; it is aggravated by neck movement, sustained posture, or palpation of the neck; it is generally unilateral; and it produces restricted neck range of motion. Your physiotherapist can confirm this through clinical assessment.
Is my headache a migraine or a tension headache?+
Migraines are typically moderate-to-severe throbbing pain (usually one-sided), with nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound, lasting 4-72 hours. Tension-type headaches are bilateral, pressing in quality, mild-to-moderate, and not associated with nausea. Cervicogenic headache is unilateral, starting at the neck, aggravated by movement.
How many sessions will I need for headaches?+
Most patients with cervicogenic headache notice significant improvement within 4-6 sessions of manual therapy. A complete course including rehabilitation typically takes 8-12 weeks.
Can forward head posture cause headaches?+
Yes. For every centimetre the head translates forward of the ideal position, the effective load on the cervical spine increases significantly. This increases loading on the upper cervical facet joints and suboccipital musculature — common sources of cervicogenic headache.
Should I take painkillers for my headaches?+
Occasional use of analgesia for headache relief is appropriate. However, regular use of pain medication — more than 10-15 days per month — can lead to medication overuse headache, where the medication itself drives headache frequency. If you are taking analgesia regularly for headaches, this should be discussed with your GP alongside physiotherapy management.

Full Treatment Pathway

Related Services

Effective treatment for headaches often involves more than one service. Explore the approaches we use as part of a complete care pathway.

General Physiotherapy

Expert assessment, hands-on treatment, and progressive rehabilitation for all musculoskeletal conditions.

Learn more →
Dry Needling

Trigger point dry needling to reduce muscle guarding, relieve pain, and restore movement quickly.

Learn more →

Ready to get moving?

Beeliar, Booragoon and East Fremantle -- early morning, evening and Saturday appointments available.

Book OnlineCall 08 6113 8062