Cervicogenic Headaches

Alleviate Cervigogenic, Tension, and Migraine Headache Pain for Good

Symmetry has published several multi-clinical site randomized control trials which has led the industry to establish new standards for the treatment of headaches. Our published research supports multi-modal physical therapy treatment including dry needling, spinal manipulation, myofascial and soft tissue release of the muscle on the head, neck, and scapula along with postural correction are effective treatment strategies for patients who suffer from cervicogenic and tension-type headaches.

Effective, Research-Based Treatments

Specific physical therapy interventions including electric dry needling, spinal manipulation, and myofascial/soft tissue release work has been shown to be an effective treatment strategy for patient that suffer from cervicogenic and tension-type headaches.

Immediate Results

There is evidence that a single treatment of multimodal physical therapy that includes electric dry needling, spinal manipulation, and soft tissue release results in a meaningful reduction of pain and disability secondary to cervicogenic and migraine headaches.

Pain Reduction

Multimodal physical therapy for headaches has been shown to result in meaningful reductions in pain and disability that last >3 months following treatment.

Tissue Specific

Multimodal physical therapy targets anatomical structures in the upper neck and posterior occiput that cannot be reached by conventional treatment.
Effective and Versatile: Multimodal physical therapy that targets the cervical spine and posterior occiput helps to desensitize the trigeminocervical nucleus.

Performance Enhancing

Multimodal physical therapy for cervicogenic and tension-type headaches helps to improve concentration and cognitive performance.

Cervicogenic Headaches

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What are Cervicogenic Headaches?

According to the International Classification of headache disorders, cervicogenic headaches are “headaches caused by a disorder of the cervical spine and its component bony, disc, and/or soft tissue elements, usually but no invariably accompanied by neck pain.”  They are typically unilateral, do no change sides within the same headache, and are associated with limited cervical range of motion.

What are Tension-Type Headaches?

Tension-type headaches are bilaterally located, are associated with mild to moderate intensity, are not aggravated by routine physical activity, are not associated with nausea, photo/phono phobia, or another disorder.

A recent multi-clinical site randomized control trial of 142 patients found that electric dry needling and spinal manipulation resulted in a significant reduction in medication intake along with headache intensity, disability, frequency, and duration in patients with cervicogenic headaches.

Headache Miami

How does Physical Therapy Help?

  • Mobilization and manipulation of the cervical and thoracic spine are successful treatment strategies for patients with cervicogenic headaches, a recent multi-clinical site randomized control trial suggests manipulation may be advantageous in this patient population.
  • A number of review articles have reported that manipulation and/or mobilization of the cervical and thoracic spine is a useful treatment strategy for tension-type headaches.
  • A number of randomized control trials have demonstrated that myofascial and soft tissue release of the muscle on the head, neck, and scapula are effective treatment strategies for cervicogenic and tension-type headaches.
  • Exercise has resulted in clinically meaningful reductions in pain and disability secondary to cervicogenic and tension-type headaches.
  • In an overview of 8 Cochrane reviews, electroacupuncture was shown to be an evidence-based treatment strategy for tension-type headaches, migraines, and neck pain.

Click Below to Read Multi-Clinical Site Randomized Control Trials (published by our Research Director)

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About

Symmetry Physical Therapy is a privately owned one-on-one, patient-centered physical therapy clinic in Downtown Miami/Brickell. Every treatment is with the same Doctor of Physical Therapy for the entire hour. Symmetry’s specialized, dedicated, and passionate team of professionals is fully committed to each patient’s success.

Award-Winning Service
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