Benefits of Physical Therapy for Headaches
Benefits of Physical Therapy for Headaches Approximately 45 million Americans
or 16.5% of the population suffer from chronic headaches. The International Headache
Society describes cervicogenic headaches as those that arise from musculoskeletal
impairments in the neck and comprise approximately 15-20% of all chronic headaches.
In 1988 the IHS established 7 diagnostic criteria for headaches of cervical origin:
- 1. Aggravated by neck movement or sustained postures
- 2. Reproduced by pressure over upper cervical spine.
- 3. Ipsilateral neck, shoulder or arm pain.
- 4. Unilateral head pain without side-shift (should not change from 1 side to another
within or between attacks).
- 5. Begins in suboccipital region and spreads to occiput radiating to the frontal,
retro-orbital or temporal regions.
- 6. Unlike migraine-type pain that has a buildup to severe pain, cervicogenic pain
is a continous moderate (usually) pain with varying degrees of intensity.
- 7. Diagnostic blocks of upper cervical spine can confirm.
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