Headaches or cephalalgia is a term used to describe pain symptoms in the head area, ranging from mild to extremely painful. More than 50% of the general population experience or have experienced headaches, often facing difficulties in their daily activities as a result.

Symptoms

According to the International Headache Society, there are several categories of headaches, classified into primary and secondary. Primary headaches include migraine, tension-type headaches, and cervicogenic headaches. Secondary headaches are disorders arising from underlying conditions, such as infections, inflammation, aneurysms, substance overuse, etc.

Migraine is a very common condition, especially in women, and manifests as intense pain on one side of the head, lasting from a few hours to several days. It is mainly triggered by lifestyle factors such as stress, poor sleep, fatigue, dehydration, and more.

Tension-type headaches occur on one or both sides of the head and are generally milder and shorter in duration than migraines. Common causes include stress, overuse and fatigue of the neck muscles, and even jaw clenching during sleep.

Cervicogenic headaches manifest as intense pain that starts at the back of the head and extends to the top and the eyes, affecting one or both sides of the head. It is caused by dysfunction in the cervical area, physical fatigue, or poor posture, where the neck muscles are weakened or systematically overworked. The disorder can also result from an injury to an anatomical structure in the cervical spine.

The Role of Physiotherapy

For the effective treatment of headaches and alleviation of symptoms, a detailed assessment by your physiotherapist is essential through clinical examination and a thorough medical history review. The goal is to precisely identify the causes of the headache in order to design an appropriate recovery plan.

Physiotherapy restores the function of the cervical muscles and, consequently, improves neck mobility. It enhances posture in daily activities, reducing headache symptoms. Moreover, it reduces the need for medication to alleviate pain, improving the individual’s daily functionality.

The physiotherapist will design a therapeutic exercise program tailored to the individual’s needs, which will be performed both during sessions and at home as self-therapy. The aim is not only to effectively treat the headache disorder but also to educate the individual on managing their daily routine to prevent the recurrence of symptoms.