What Is a Headache?

A headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck area. The brain itself doesn’t feel pain — instead, the pain comes from nearby structures such as:

• Muscles and joints of the neck and jaw

• Nerves around the skull and face

Headaches occur when these tissues become irritated or inflamed due to various triggers or underlying conditions.

Types of Headaches

1. Primary Headaches

These headaches are not caused by another underlying medical condition. They are the most common and include:

Tension-Type Headaches

• Most common type of headache

• Mild to moderate pressure or tightness, often described as a “band” around the head

• Usually on both sides

• Triggered by stress, muscle tension, poor posture, or fatigue

Migraines

• Moderate to severe throbbing pain, usually on one side

• Can be accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light/sound, or visual disturbances (auras)

• May last hours to days

• Triggers include hormonal changes, certain foods, stress, or lack of sleep

Cluster Headaches

• Severe, burning or piercing pain, often behind or around one eye

• Occur in cyclical patterns (“clusters”), often at the same time each day

• May cause tearing, red eye, or nasal congestion on the affected side

• Less common but extremely painful

2. Secondary Headaches

These are caused by another condition, such as:

• Sinus infections

• Head or neck injury

• High blood pressure

• Medication overuse (rebound headaches)

• Infection, tumors, or neurological disorders (rare)

3. Cervicogenic Headaches (Neck-Related)

These are headaches that originate from issues in the neck, particularly the upper cervical spine (C1–C3).

• Pain typically starts at the back of the head or neck and radiates forward

• Usually affects one side of the head

• Aggravated by neck movement, poor posture, or pressure on certain neck areas

• Common in people with desk jobs, previous whiplash, or neck stiffness

This is where physiotherapy can be especially effective.

The Takeaway

Headaches are complex and can have many causes — some simple, others more serious. The key is understanding what type of headache you have and what’s triggering it.

If your headaches are frequent, tied to neck pain, or posture-related, physiotherapy may be a safe, drug-free solution to help manage and prevent them.

If you have any questions regarding your headache, or are interested in seeing if we can help you, please give us a call at (02) 8411 2050. Here at Thornleigh Performance Physiotherapy, we can give you an accurate diagnosis and treatment, to help you get back in action as soon as possible. We have expertise in musculoskeletal physiotherapy and are conveniently located near Beecroft, Cherrybrook, Hornsby, Normanhurst, Pennant Hills, Wahroonga, Westleigh, West Pennant Hills, and West Pymble.