Neck Pain and Headaches: How Chiropractic Treatment Can Help
If you’ve ever found yourself rubbing the back of your neck while a dull ache spreads around your head, you’re not alone. Neck pain and headaches are two of the most common complaints — and they often go hand in hand. What many don’t realise is that the source of recurring headaches might be sitting right in the neck.
Chiropractic care offers a safe, drug-free approach that gets to the root. At PPI in West Leederville, we have five chiropractors on staff — each bringing a unique skill set to help you find lasting relief.
Why Neck Pain and Headaches Go Together
Up to 20% of all headaches originate from the cervical spine. Known as cervicogenic headaches, these are caused by dysfunction in the neck joints, muscles, or nerves. When structures in the upper neck become stiff or irritated, nerves travelling into your head transmit pain signals — often starting at the base of the skull.
Cervicogenic vs Migraine: Cervicogenic headaches start in the neck and move forward, often one-sided with neck stiffness. Migraines are neurological — throbbing pain with nausea, light sensitivity, and visual disturbances. The distinction matters because chiropractic is exceptionally effective for cervicogenic headaches.
Common Causes
Poor Posture and Desk Work
Hours hunched over a computer places enormous strain on the cervical spine. The average head weighs 4.5-5.5 kg. For every inch your head shifts forward, the effective weight on neck muscles roughly doubles — leading to fatigue, tension, and headaches.
Stress and Muscle Tension
When stressed, your shoulders creep up toward your ears. Chronic stress keeps the upper trapezius and suboccipital muscles in constant tension, restricting blood flow and irritating scalp nerves.
Whiplash and Previous Injury
Motor vehicle accidents and sports collisions can cause whiplash — rapid back-and-forth neck movement damaging ligaments and joints. Up to 43% of patients experience long-term symptoms including chronic neck pain and cervicogenic headache.
What Chiropractic Treatment Involves
Spinal Adjustments
A precise, controlled movement applied to stiff or dysfunctional joints — particularly the upper cervical spine (C1-C3). A 2025 network meta-analysis in Frontiers in Neurology found cervical spinal manipulation ranked as the most effective intervention for reducing pain and disability in cervicogenic headache patients.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Hands-on techniques including myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and stretching to relax tight muscles and support the effects of the adjustment.
Exercise and Ergonomics Advice
Specific exercises to strengthen weak deep neck flexors and stretch tight muscles, plus practical advice on workstation setup, sleeping position, and daily movement habits.
Why Choose PPI?
With five chiropractors alongside physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, and massage therapists, we treat the whole person — not just the symptom. Whether your neck pain stems from desk posture, a car accident, or chronic stress, our team creates a personalised plan.
Ready to find relief? Call (08) 9381 1265 or book at ppiperth.com.au. 144 Cambridge Street, West Leederville.