More good days. Fewer headache days.
If your headaches start in your neck or shoulders, physical therapy can change the pattern. We treat the mechanics feeding the pain.
Do your headaches work like this?
Neck-driven headaches leave clues. Check yours against these.
- Pain starts at the base of your skull and wraps forward
- Headaches build after long hours at a desk or screen
- Your neck and shoulders are tender to the touch
- You catch yourself clenching your jaw
- Neck stiffness often shows up before a migraine
- You're reaching for pain relievers more than you'd like
Many headaches are referred pain.
The joints and muscles of your upper neck share nerve pathways with your head. When they are irritated by posture load, tension, or stiffness, the pain often shows up in your temples, forehead, or behind your eyes instead of your neck. These are cervicogenic headaches, and we treat them all the time.
Migraine is its own neurological condition, and we will not tell you we cure it. But for many people with migraine, neck dysfunction is a real trigger, and reducing it can mean fewer and gentler episodes. We work alongside your physician and treat the piece we can change.
Things you've heard that aren't true.
Bad information keeps a lot of people hurting longer than they should. Let's clear a few up.
"Headaches are just stress."
Stress contributes, but stress lands on your neck and jaw as physical tension. Treat the physical piece and the same stressful week produces fewer headaches.
"Only medication helps."
For neck-driven headaches, hands-on care and targeted exercise have strong evidence for reducing how often and how hard they hit.
"If it were my neck, my neck would hurt."
Not necessarily. Referred pain is sneaky, and plenty of neck-driven headaches come with no neck pain at all. The exam tells us either way.
Treat the trigger, not just the symptom.
Headache plans typically combine these tools.
Upper-neck mobilization
Gentle, specific hands-on work for the joints most often responsible for referring pain into the head.
Explore manual therapy →
Dry needling
Releases the trigger points in the neck and shoulders that are known to refer pain into the head.
About dry needling →
Deep neck strengthening
Endurance training for the small muscles that hold your head up, so tension stops accumulating.
About therapeutic exercise →
Desk & habit coaching
Workstation and screen-habit changes that remove the daily fuel from the fire.
About ergonomic training →No referral needed. Most insurance accepted.
In Illinois you can start physical therapy without a doctor's referral, so there's nothing standing between you and relief. We accept most major plans and offer self-pay options. Not sure about your coverage? We'll check it for you before your first visit.
What to expect, start to finish.
Here's exactly what your first visit looks like.
We listen first
We start with your history, your symptoms, and the goals that matter to you.
We find the cause
We look at how your whole body moves to find what's driving your pain, not just where it hurts.
You leave with a plan
A hands-on treatment plan built around your body and your life, and a therapist who stays with you the whole way.
Often part of the same pattern.
The same care at every clinic.
Every therapist on our team is trained in the entirety of the kinetic chain. That means we look at how your whole body moves, not just the part that hurts, and treat the cause instead of the symptom. You get that same care at all 10 of our clinics.
One proven approach
The same hands-on, whole-body approach guides every plan we build.
One standard, every clinic
Every clinic is held to the same standard, set by therapists with advanced training in how the body moves.
A team that knows you
You'll see the same faces at your home clinic, people who know your name and your goals.
You're in good hands.
"…The result? Less pain, fewer headaches and more energy to take on extended desk work and daily activities! Thanks to Christine and the team for such a great experience!"
"Travis and Carl are great and have helped me out so much with the shoulder pain and headaches I've been having. The facility is clean, everything is well-organized, and everyone is friendly."
Headaches, answered.
Can physical therapy really help migraine?
How do I know if my headaches come from my neck?
How many visits before I notice a change?
Should I still see my doctor about headaches?
Will you coordinate with my neurologist?
Care near you.
Treated at all 10 of our clinics in the greater Chicago area.
Ready to feel like yourself again?
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what's bothering you. You'll hear from us within one business day to get you scheduled.
- No Referral Needed
- Most Major Insurances Accepted
- Appointments Within 48 to 72 Hours