Headache and neck
For adults whose headaches arrive with a tight neck or shoulders: an exam, a plan and what to do between visits.
Your physician decides what is behind a headache. We look at how your neck, jaw and shoulders move and what in your day loads them, then work on that with our hands and with movement you practice. We tell you what we find, and when to see a physician.
This care is for you if
Your headaches come with a stiff neck or tight shoulders
You spend long days at a screen, a wheel or a bench
You have talked to your physician and want to know what physical therapy looks at
You want your triggers explained in plain words
A visit
What a visit looks like
About an hour for a first visit, with one physical therapist.
Talk
When your headaches come, what your days look like and what you have already tried.
Examine
How your neck, jaw and shoulders move, how you sit and stand, and what loads them.
Hands-on care
Work on the muscles of the neck and shoulders, matched to what the exam found.
Plan
Movements to practice, changes to your desk, car or sleep, and what to bring back to your physician.
What we do
Named plainly, with no promise of a result.
Check how the neck moves
Range, strength and the muscles that work hardest during your day.
Hands-on work
Pressure and stretch along the neck, shoulders and upper back. We stop when you ask.
Desk, car and sleep
Small changes to how you sit, drive and sleep, and a few movements to practice.
Good to know
What decides how many visits
Your exam, your goals and how you respond. Your therapist tells you what they expect, and revisits it as you go. Results vary.
How it is paid for
You pay for each visit yourself, and we give you a written estimate before your first visit.
How fees workWhen to see a doctor first
New or changing headaches, headaches that wake you, or a headache with any other new symptom need a physician first. For anything sudden and severe, call 911.
- Chest pain, trouble breathing, a sudden severe headache or pain, new weakness or numbness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or a fall with a head injury needs emergency care now. Call 911.
Questions about this care
What does physical therapy look at for headaches?
We examine your neck, jaw and shoulders, how you move and what loads them. We cannot tell you what is causing a headache, because that is for your physician. If we find nothing we can help with, we say so.
Should I see a physician first?
If your headaches are new, changing or worrying, yes. You can also call us and ask. We will tell you if we think a physician should look first.
Start with a conversation
A free 15-minute phone call is a chance to ask about your situation and what a visit involves. It is not a visit.