As a Myotherapist, I treat a lot of headaches and I rarely see two that are exactly the same but knowing what type of headache you have is a great place to start when it comes to managing and preventing headaches. Here’s a quick guide to common headache types and practical management tips.
1. Tension-Type Headaches
Symptoms: Dull, aching sensation like a tight band around your head.
Cause: Muscle tightness in neck, shoulders, and upper back from poor posture and stress.
Quick tips: Take desk breaks every 30-45 minutes, do neck rolls and shoulder shrugs, apply heat to tight muscles, optimise your workspace ergonomics.
Resources:
- Yoga for Tension Headaches
- Myofascial Release Video- NECK + JAW
- Research Review: Tension Headache Treatment
2. Cervicogenic Headaches
Symptoms: Pain starting in the neck and radiating to one side of the head, worsening with certain neck movements.
Cause: Issues in the cervical spine, often from whiplash, poor posture, or degenerative conditions.
Quick tips: Sleep with proper neck alignment, regularly move your neck throughout the day, perform chin tucks, avoid prolonged head-turned positions. Breathing exercises are also very helpful during a headache to calm down the nervous system.
Resources:
- SCM release for headaches and jaw pain
- Breathing exercises – Instagram
- Research Review: Manual therapy for cervicogenic headaches (PubMed)
3. Migraines
Symptoms: Intense, throbbing pain (usually one-sided) with nausea, light sensitivity, and possible visual disturbances.
Cause: Neurological condition, but muscle tension, TMJ dysfunction, poor sleep, and stress can trigger episodes.
Quick tips: Identify triggers, maintain regular sleep, stay hydrated, practice stress management, address jaw tension, keep a headache diary.
Resources:
- YouTube: Migraines Explained
- YouTube (Huberman Podcast): How to stop a headache using science-based tools
- The Migraine Trust: Comprehensive resource
- Research: Efficacy of physical therapy for Migraines
4. TMJ Headaches
Symptoms: Temple, jaw, or ear pain radiating to the head, with jaw clicking or chewing difficulty. Can also occur with ear pain, eye twitching or tooth aches.
Cause: Jaw clenching, teeth grinding, poor bite alignment, stress, or forward head posture.
Quick tips: Avoid hard/chewy foods, practice jaw relaxation, apply warm compresses, be mindful of clenching, massage jaw muscles (see below resources).
Resources:
5. Cluster Headaches
Symptoms: Severe, burning pain around one eye occurring in patterns, with eye watering and nasal congestion.
Cause: Complex neurological condition involving the hypothalamus and autonomic nervous system.
Quick tips: Seek medical treatment (often requires prescription medication), maintain regular sleep, avoid alcohol during cluster periods, use oxygen therapy if prescribed.
Resources:
6. Sinus Headaches
Symptoms: Deep pain in cheekbones, forehead, or nose bridge, worsening with head movement.
Cause: Sinus inflammation or infection (note: many “sinus headaches” are actually migraines).
Quick tips: Use a humidifier, try saline irrigation, apply warm compresses, stay hydrated, see a doctor if persistent.
Resources:
My Whole-Body Approach
I assess postural patterns, muscle imbalances, movement patterns, stress holding, and lifestyle factors. Through trigger point therapy, dry needling, electrotherapy, myofascial release, cupping, and corrective exercises, I address root causes—not just symptoms.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Help
- Sudden, severe “thunderclap” headache
- Headache with fever, stiff neck, confusion, vision changes, or speech difficulty
- Headache after head injury
- Progressively worsening headache
Connect With Me
Instagram: Follow for myotherapy tips, headache relief techniques, and client success stories
Book an assessment: Let’s work together to determine what type of headache you have and develop a personalised treatment plan that works for you.