In this article
What comes first, the neck pain or the headache? While it’s not an age-old question, many headache sufferers could be questioning whether their back and neck could be the cause of their headaches.
For a suspected 11.9 million Australians [1], migraines and tension headaches cause more than just pain. Research indicates migraines and headaches cost the Australian economy $37.5 billion per year, with more people having their career and social lives negatively impacted by the conditions [2].
When experiencing a headache, many people will look for the quickest solution. Each year Australians purchase more than 65 million packets of paracetamol [3], a drug which is regularly used to target pain and is advertised as a potential solution to headaches.
Sometimes we can be quick to explain away what’s caused our headaches – too much coffee, not enough sleep, looking at a screen for too long; and all those things can cause headaches, but if you’re experiencing reoccurring, stubborn headaches, it could be time to consider seeing a physiotherapist.
Physiotherapy and headaches – how does it work?
The list of potential causes for a headache or migraine is long, and it can be hard to trace back the steps in your day to pinpoint what might’ve caused the painful throbbing in your head. However, if you are experiencing regular headaches, which are hard to treat, there could be another contributing factor you haven’t considered – your spine.
Physiotherapists can assess your back and spine to determine whether it could be causing your headaches. The Brisbane Spine Clinic team have certified practitioners who use The Watson Approach [link back to previous TBSP blog about TWA] to diagnose and treat spine issues which can cause headaches.
What is The Watson Approach?
The Watson Approach is used to identify the role of the neck in headaches and migraines. Created by Dr Dean Watson PhD, Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, the Watson Approach is practiced in over 25 countries to understand and treat the neck’s involvement in causing headaches [4].
Here is a video explaining what The Watson Approach is: The Watson Headache Approach and the Medical Model of Headache.
The Watson Approach should be performed by trained physiotherapists.
How does The Watson Approach work?
The Watson Approach focuses on examining the three top vertebrae in your spine (C1-C3). This is done with your trained physiotherapist undertaking and directing you to perform specific movements with your neck. This may involve reproducing your headache to understand whether your spine is causing your headaches.
Once this examination has occurred, your physiotherapist will create a plan to treat your neck. This will likely involve some manual pressure and manipulation of your spine and vertebrae but does not involve cracking of your spine.
You’ll also get some headache-preventing homework, in the form of exercises, to do at home.
Meet your trained Watson Approach physiotherapists
At The Brisbane Spine Clinic, our team of experienced physiotherapists can work with you to understand your individual circumstances with headaches and migraines. Two of our physiotherapists have completed The Watson Approach training programs and are both available for appointments.
Sang Bin (Leo) Hyun and Raymond Sidhu are both certified Watson Approach Headache practitioners and are passionate about working with patients to implement treatment plans for reoccurring headaches.
If you would like to know more about The Watson Approach and how it could benefit you, please contact us now to make an appointment.
Disclaimers:
All information is general and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The Brisbane Spine Clinic can consult with you to confirm if this treatment is right for you.
References:
[1] Prevalence and Cost Of Headache – Headache Australia
[2] Migraine in Australia, Deloitte Access Economics Report, 2018
[3] Independent expert report on paracetamol, Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australia, 2022 Microsoft Word – Independent expert report on paracetamol FINAL correction 20-Sep clean.docx (tga.gov.au)
