Tension headaches are usually described as a headache that starts in the back of the head at the base of the skull (occiput) and tend to radiate up the back of the skull. It can cause pain and pressure along the side and front of the head, and pain behind the eyes. There can be many things that trigger a tension headache, including: cervical joint restrictions, jaw (temporomandibular joint) dysfunction, poor posture, prolonged computer use, prolonged phone use, and sustaining an injury. These triggers can cause small muscles (suboccipital muscles) to spasm and cause compression at the base of the occiput, where our suboccipital nerve travels. Compression to this area will disturb the nerve and cause pain to radiate up the back of our heads. When present, these headaches are usually constant, and may throb. Performing a comprehensive evaluation will indicate the trigger(s), and allow our physical therapy to develop a plan of care catered to each patient. Once the triggers are addressed, and restrictions reduced, these symptoms should improve.
