Summary
Physiotherapists are very familiar with cervicogenic headache, a secondary headache from a cervical musculoskeletal disorder. However between 70 – 80% of persons with primary headaches such as migraine and tension-type headache also report neck pain. Neck pain in migraine is a significant symptom and more common than nausea. Migraineurs commonly seek neck treatment as manipulative therapy and exercise in attempts to obtain relief of neck pain and headache. However the evidence indicates that less than half of the headache associated neck pain is associated with cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction. This course will discuss headache associated neck pain and the need for a skilled physical examination to determine the presence of a pattern of musculoskeletal dysfunction to indicate who might be suitable for local neck treatment.
Objectives
- To enhance understanding of cervicogenic headache and the requirement of a pattern of cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction for diagnosis
- To review evidence based management of cervicogenic headache
- To enhance understanding of the mechanisms of neck pain in different headache types
- To enhance understanding of differential diagnosis of headache associated neck pain
- To enhance clinical reasoning for the selection of patients with headache and neck pain who might be suitable for local neck treatment
Course Content
Target professionals
Content is not intended for use outside the scope of the learner’s license or regulation. Continuing education courses should not be taken by people who are not licensed or regulated.This does not apply when they are part of a specific plan of care. By participating in this course, the participant agrees to respect his/her professional scope of practice.