What Is Cervicogenic Headache?
Cervicogenic Headache is a secondary headache that begins in the neck and sends pain into the head, face, or area behind the eyes. Irritation or restricted movement in the cervical spine can affect nearby joints, muscles, or nerves. Pain often stays on one side and may change with neck movement or posture.
Quick Facts About Cervicogenic Headache
Category
Secondary headache
Used for
Neck-related headache assessment
Common confusion
Often confused with migraine
Also called
Neck-related headache, Cervical headache
Often discussed with
Headache Treatment, Neck Pain Treatment
Key Takeaways About Cervicogenic Headache
- Pain commonly begins in the neck and spreads upward.
- Neck movement or posture may change the symptoms.
- Cervicogenic headaches are not the same as migraines.
How Cervicogenic Headache Works
Cervicogenic Headache develops when structures in the neck refer pain into the head. The cervical spine contains joints, muscles, and nerves that can influence nearby pain signals. Restricted motion, sustained posture, or irritation in these structures may make symptoms worse during head or neck movement.
Related glossary terms: Cervical Spine, Facet Joint, Forward Head Posture.
A clinician considers the location and pattern of pain, neck movement, posture, and related findings during an assessment. Cervical Spine movement may be compared across directions, while nearby muscles and joints are checked for tenderness or limited motion. The pattern helps distinguish this condition from a migraine or pain that begins elsewhere.
From the Arrowhead Clinic Chiropractic - Albany team
When we assess a cervicogenic headache, we review neck motion, posture, and the relationship between neck findings and head pain. We also consider whether the symptom pattern fits Headache Treatment or calls for evaluation beyond chiropractic care.
Cervicogenic Headache in Practice: A Real-World Example
A person develops one-sided head pain after spending much of the day looking downward. Neck rotation feels restricted, and the pain changes when the person moves the head. This pattern may prompt a neck-focused assessment during Headache Treatment.
Related Services
Related Terms
Cervical Spine
The cervical spine is the neck section of the spinal column, located between the skull and…
Facet Joint
Facet Joint is a small synovial joint between the back portions of neighboring vertebrae. Facet joints…
Forward Head Posture
Forward Head Posture is a postural pattern in which the head rests ahead of the shoulders…
Occipital Nerve
Occipital Nerve is a group of sensory nerves that carries feeling from the back of the…
Arrowhead Clinic Chiropractic - Albany
Have Questions About Cervicogenic Headache?
Contact Arrowhead Clinic Chiropractic - Albany for practical guidance on Cervicogenic Headache and related chiropractor work in Albany.