Can Neck Problems Contribute to Headaches?

Not all headaches come from the neck, but many do. The upper neck shares nerve connections with the head, face and scalp, so when the joints and muscles at the top of the neck get restricted or tight, the discomfort can travel upward. Health professionals call these cervicogenic headaches, meaning the source is the neck.

The more common version is subtler: tension-type headaches that build through the workday, often starting as pressure at the base of the skull before spreading around the head. These tend to pair with forward head posture, long screen sessions and stress, the same things that strain the neck in the first place.

That's why a headache evaluation that only examines the head misses half the story. When Dr. Gregory Martin sees a patient with recurring headaches, he takes a careful history and then looks at how the neck moves, where it's restricted and how posture and habits could be feeding the pattern.

If the neck is clearly contributing, chiropractic care may help some patients by easing strain and improving neck mobility, often alongside practical changes to desks and screens. It's not a guarantee, and serious headache types need to be ruled out first, but understanding the connection is a solid reason to look closer.

Dr. Greg has practiced since 1996 and sees patients in Sparta, New Jersey. If headaches are a regular part of your week, an evaluation that includes the neck is a reasonable place to start.