Headaches & Migraines
Headaches and migraines are common and can make it hard to work, exercise, concentrate, or get through the day comfortably.
Symptoms vary from person to person. Some people feel a dull or tight pressure around the head, while others have more intense, throbbing pain, often with nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. Neck tension, jaw tightness, dizziness, and visual disturbance can also occur.
Episodes may be triggered by poor sleep, dehydration, stress, missed meals, long periods at a screen, hormonal changes, or changes in routine. In some cases, headaches develop after an injury such as whiplash or concussion. In others, they build over time alongside neck stiffness, muscle tension, or repeated postural strain.
Some headaches are linked to tension and irritation in the neck, jaw, and surrounding muscles.
Migraines are different. They involve increased sensitivity in the nervous system and are often influenced by factors such as stress, sleep, hormones, and family history.
At Revitalize Physical Therapy, we help patients whose headaches are related to the neck, upper back, jaw, and movement habits. We also look out for features that may need medical review, so care stays safe and well coordinated.
Our goal is to identify what is contributing to your symptoms and help you reduce flare-ups, improve daily function, and feel more in control.
- Insurance Accepted
- Self-Pay plans available
- No Referrals Required
Causes of headaches & migraines
Headaches have multiple causes, and the same person can have more than one type. The goal is to identify the pattern so treatment targets the right driver.
Common causes include tension-type headaches, which often feel like pressure or tightness and can be linked to stress, sleep disruption, jaw clenching, and prolonged screen posture. Cervicogenic headaches start from the neck. They often feel one-sided and can be triggered by neck movement, sustained positions, or stiffness in the upper neck joints.
Migraines often involve throbbing or pulsing pain, sensitivity to light or sound, nausea, and reduced ability to function. Some people experience aura, such as visual changes, tingling, or speech changes before the headache. Migraines can be triggered by sleep changes, stress shifts, dehydration, skipped meals, certain foods, hormonal changes, weather changes, and sensory overload.
Headaches can also follow injury. Post-concussion or post-whiplash headaches may involve neck pain, dizziness, and sensitivity to activity. Jaw-related problems (TMJ irritation) can contribute to facial pain and headaches, especially with clenching or grinding.
Another common contributor is medication-overuse headache. Frequent use of certain pain medications can lead to a cycle where headaches return more often and feel harder to control.
Less often, headaches relate to serious medical conditions such as infection, bleeding, uncontrolled blood pressure, stroke, or other neurologic problems. These causes are uncommon, but your physical therapist and doctor watch for warning signs so you can be referred for medical testing if needed.
Book an appointment if:
• You get headaches at least weekly, or the pattern is becoming more frequent.
• Headaches repeat with work habits like long screen time, driving, or sustained neck positions.
• You notice neck stiffness, jaw tension, or shoulder tightness during or before headaches.
• Migraine symptoms keep interrupting work, exercise, family time, or sleep.
• Over-the-counter medication helps only briefly, and headaches keep returning.
• You want a clear plan to reduce triggers and improve control instead of guessing.
If any of these sound familiar, booking an appointment at Revitalize Physical Therapy can help you get a clear plan instead of guessing what to do next.
Ask For urgent appointment or call doctor if:
• You have a new headache pattern that is getting worse over days to weeks.
• You have headache with fever, stiff neck, rash, or you feel generally very unwell.
• You have new weakness, numbness, slurred speech, confusion, or vision loss with headache.
• You have severe headache after a head injury, especially with vomiting or worsening dizziness.
• You are pregnant or recently postpartum and you have a new severe headache or high blood pressure symptoms.
These signs do not always mean something serious, but they should be checked quickly by your doctor or another medical professional.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if:
• You have a “worst headache of your life” that peaks suddenly within minutes.
• You have headache with fainting, seizure, severe confusion, or you cannot stay awake normally.
• You have one-sided weakness, facial drooping, or trouble speaking.
• You have a severe headache with chest pain, shortness of breath, or sudden severe neck pain.
• You have headache after a major fall or crash, especially with increasing drowsiness or repeated vomiting.
These may be signs of a medical emergency.
Do not wait for a regular appointment.
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Stretches to help relieve headaches
If your headache feels linked to neck tension, posture, or muscle tightness, gentle stretching and movement may help ease symptoms.
Simple options include a small chin tuck, slow head turns, and gentle side bending of the neck. These movements can help reduce stiffness and improve comfort without putting extra strain on the area.
Stretching the upper trapezius can also help if the neck and shoulders feel tight. Sit tall, keep one shoulder relaxed, and gently tilt your head to the opposite side until you feel a mild stretch.
If jaw tension is part of the problem, try relaxing the jaw with the teeth slightly apart and the tongue resting gently on the roof of the mouth.
Stretches to help relieve migraines
Migraines are usually not relieved by stretching alone, but some gentle strategies may help you feel more comfortable during an episode.
Resting in a quiet, darker room and reducing light and noise can be helpful. Slow breathing and staying hydrated may also support symptom control.
If there is neck or jaw tension alongside the migraine, very gentle relaxation-based movements may be useful, such as a light chin tuck or relaxed jaw opening and closing.
These should stay small and easy. The goal is to reduce tension, not to push into a stretch.
When to stop
Whether symptoms feel more like a headache or a migraine, stop if movement increases pain, dizziness, nausea, or visual disturbance.
Seek urgent medical attention if you develop a sudden severe headache, confusion, weakness, speech changes, or other unusual neurological symptoms.
How to ease headaches & migraines yourself
Many people can ease mild headache or migraine symptoms with simple self-care measures, especially when they act early.
Do:
Hydrate and eat regular meals to avoid long gaps that can trigger symptoms.
Use a simple screen setup: screen at eye level, elbows supported, and short breaks every 30–45 minutes.
Try heat on tight neck and shoulder muscles for 15–20 minutes if it helps.
Use a dark, quiet room during migraine episodes, and return to activity gradually as symptoms settle.
Track patterns for 2–3 weeks (sleep, stress, meals, screens, exercise) to identify triggers and repeatable solutions.
Book an appointment if headaches keep returning, or you want a comprehensive plan you can follow.
Don’t:
Don’t ignore a sudden change in headache type, intensity, or neurologic symptoms.
Don’t push through intense screen time or bright light if it clearly worsens symptoms.
Don’t clench your jaw through the day without noticing it; frequent clenching can drive headaches.
Don’t “save” hydration and meals for later; skipped basics often trigger episodes.
Don’t rely on frequent pain medication without talking to a clinician, because overuse can worsen headache cycles.
Don’t do aggressive neck stretching during a flare if it increases dizziness, nausea, or sharp pain.
How we treat headaches & migraines
At Revitalize Physical Therapy, we begin by understanding your symptom pattern.
Your therapist will ask about the location of your pain, how often it happens, how long it lasts, what seems to trigger it, and how it affects work, sleep, exercise, and day-to-day life.
We also check for signs that may need medical review, especially if symptoms are changing, severe, or do not fit a typical pattern.
Treatment is based on what appears to be contributing to your symptoms.
If neck tension, posture, jaw tightness, or muscle strain are part of the problem, treatment may include gentle mobility work, progressive exercise, and advice on reducing strain during daily activities.
This can help improve movement, reduce stiffness, and support better control through the neck and upper back.
We also look at habits that may be feeding symptoms over time, such as screen setup, sustained positions, poor sleep routine, missed meals, dehydration, and stress.
For people with migraine, care often includes support with trigger management, pacing, and practical steps that help reduce flare-ups and make symptoms easier to manage.
Where appropriate, hands-on treatment may be used to help ease muscle tension and make movement more comfortable, but it is usually only one part of a wider plan.
Common Questions about Headaches & Migraines
Ready to Get Help for Headaches or Migraines?
If headaches or migraines are affecting your work, sleep, or daily life, you do not have to keep pushing through them or guessing at solutions. A focused plan can make a real difference.
At Revitalize Physical Therapy, your therapist will listen to your story, assess the drivers behind your symptoms, coordinate with your doctor when needed, and build a clear step-by-step plan to help you feel and function better.
Book an appointment today to take the next step toward fewer headaches, better movement, and more control over your day.
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