Approximately 45 million Americans suffer from headaches each year. That calculates out to about one in every six people. Migraine headache. Tension headache. Cluster headache. Sinus headache. Hormonal headache. The list goes on and on. There are over 150 types of headaches out there and each have their own set of signs and symptoms and ways to treat. Some headaches respond well to chiropractic care because the source of the pain is due to a neck disorder or muscle tension.

The headaches that respond to chiropractic care are referred to as Cervicogenic headaches. These headaches are unusual because the source of the pain truly isn’t in the head. A cervicogenic headache is actually referred pain, or pain that is perceived as occurring in one part of the body, but originates somewhere else in the body. Cervicogenic headaches are perceived in the head, but originate in the neck. The source of the pain is commonly due to subluxations, joints that have become stuck or immobile, in the neck accompanied by tight, tender, spastic muscles.

Often patients will have a diagnosis of a different type of headache other than a cervicogenic headache, but respond well to chiropractic care. This may occur because cervicogenic headaches may have been an underlying factor contributing to a bigger headache.