A common presentation we are seeing at Lakeside Sports Medicine Centre in light of the recent COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent working from home conditions is the rise of cervicogenic headache.
Cervicogenic headache is a term used to describe headache caused by dysfunction of the muscles, fascia, neural structures and joints of the cervical spine. It is believed the mechanism of cervicogenic headache is primarily referred pain caused by sensitisation of the upper cervical spine (C1, C2 and C3).
Some of the common clinical features of cervicogenic headache include:
Reduced range of motion in the neck
Unilateral pain in most cases; that is pain present on one side of the head
Pain distribution across the forehead, around the nose/cheeks, jaw or back of the head
Headache that is aggravated by posture or certain movements of the neck
Pain is commonly reported to be “sharp” or a “dull ache”
Altered or reduced sensation around the head, neck or arms
Tightness or muscle spasm around the neck and shoulder
educed ability to control the head, or the sensation of having a “heavy head”
Whilst there can be many factors that contribute to cervicogenic headache, the spike of recent presentations secondary to working from home may be attributed to the following:
Stress
Working set up and ergonomics (see blog: “Working from Home” from the Lakeside website)
Posture (poke-neck posture)
Prolonged sitting and sustained postures
Reduced physical activity and general movement
Sleeping conditions (pillow, mattress, positioning etc)
The good news is, there is an abundance of evidence-based treatment guidelines to improve pain and outcomes for those suffering from cervicogenic headache. These include:
- Manual therapy (gentle massage, mobilisations and manipulation) to reduce pain
- Exercise therapy; developing functional stability and control of the muscles around the neck and shoulder will in turn prove to better “support” the head/neck and offload the upper cervical joints. Exercise therapy has been shown to improve long-term outcomes for patients presenting with cervicogenic headache.
- Postural education
- Desensitise your mind; practice mindfulness/meditation/long walks
- Avoid prolonged sitting; schedule frequent breaks into your working routine
- Medication; if pain is severe, medication may be indicated. If so, consult with your GP to determine the most appropriate medication for you. If you would like to talk to a physiotherapist regarding cervicogenic headache or you have any questions, please contact Lakeside Sports Medicine Centre on 9682 6029.
George Dervenis | Physiotherapist
BHlthSc, MPhysioPrac, APAM
