Cervicogenic headaches is a type of headache that actually starts in the neck, not the head. The pain feels like it's behind the eye, at the temple, or across the forehead but the real source is a joint, muscle, or nerve in the upper neck referring pain upward.
It usually starts as a dull, one-sided ache that spreads into the head. Staying in one position too long, like sitting at a desk for hours, tends to make it worse. A lot of people go years thinking they just get regular headaches without realizing the neck is the one causing it.
So how does physiotherapy help? A physiotherapist will first assess neck movement, posture, and the joints at the top of the spine to confirm that's where the problem is coming from. From there, treatment usually combines a few things.
Hands-on joint mobilization of the upper neck is often the most effective part, gently moving the stiff joints that are referring pain into the head. Alongside that, specific exercises to strengthen the deep neck muscles help take pressure off those joints long-term. Poor posture, especially a forward head position from screen use, is a very common driver, so a physiotherapist will also work on correcting that.
Most people start feeling a noticeable difference within a few sessions. Full improvement usually takes 6 to 8 weeks of consistent treatment and home exercises. The headaches don't have to keep coming back. Once the neck is moving well and the muscles are supporting it properly, things generally settle down for good.
