Head Pain / Cervicogenic Headache

Cervicogenic Headache

Physiotherapy in Miranda, NSW

Dealing with One-Sided Headaches, Neck Pain or Eye Pressure?

If you're experiencing persistent one-sided headaches, neck tightness, pain that travels from the base of your skull to your temple or eye, or a dull ache that worsens with neck movement, you might be dealing with a cervicogenic headache. Unlike migraines or tension-type headaches, cervicogenic headaches originate from dysfunction in the upper cervical spine.

At PACT Physio & Rehab, located in Miranda, NSW, we specialise in diagnosing and treating cervicogenic headaches, especially those related to repetitive desk work, poor posture, previous whiplash injuries, or degenerative changes in the neck.

What Is a Cervicogenic Headache?

A cervicogenic headache is a type of secondary headache—meaning it’s caused by an underlying condition, typically arising from the C1-C3 spinal segments, upper cervical joints, discs, or associated musculature.

Common causes include:

Dysfunction or irritation of the upper cervical facet joints (especially C2/C3)
Poor posture or repetitive strain at work (RSI)
Previous trauma such as whiplash or sports injury
Chronic tension in the upper trapezius, SCM, or suboccipital muscles
Cervical disc or joint degeneration

Common Symptoms of Cervicogenic Headache

One-sided pain that starts in the neck or base of the skull
Pain that may radiate to the temple, forehead, or around the eye
Worsens with neck movement or sustained postures
Stiffness or restriction in upper neck mobility
Tenderness over the upper cervical spine or occipital region
Visual disturbances or light sensitivity (in some cases)

Unlike migraines, cervicogenic headaches do not throb or pulsate, and they are usually not accompanied by nausea or aura.

Why Desk Workers and Remote Professionals Are at Risk

Modern lifestyles involving prolonged screen time, poor workstation setups, and forward head posture place repeated mechanical stress on the upper cervical spine, particularly the atlantoaxial and atlanto-occipital joints. Over time, this leads to:

Muscle overactivity
Joint stiffness
Nerve sensitisation
Headache and referred pain

These headaches won’t respond well to over-the-counter medication alone, because the root cause lies in mechanical and neuromuscular dysfunction—not vascular or hormonal factors like migraines.

How PACT Physio & Rehab in Miranda Can Help

At PACT Physio & Rehab, we take a comprehensive, hands-on approach to treating cervicogenic headaches by restoring neck mobility, calming sensitised nerves, and correcting the movement patterns that drive your pain.

✅ Trigger Point Dry Needling

We use dry needling to release tight bands in the suboccipital muscles, upper traps, levator scapulae, and other relevant areas that contribute to pain referral and joint restriction.

✅ Joint Mobilisation & Cervical Manipulation

Gentle manual therapy and mobilisation techniques targeting C0-C3 can help restore joint glide, decompress irritated structures, and immediately reduce head and neck pain.

✅ Postural Retraining & Ergonomics

We assess your desk, screen height, and posture habits. By addressing workplace setup, we reduce ongoing strain that keeps feeding your headache cycle.

✅ Targeted Home/Gym-Based Exercise Programs

Custom exercise plans improve mobility, strength, and posture. Our goal is to empower you with a plan that prevents recurrence.

✅ Telehealth Appointments Available Australia-Wide

If you're not local to Miranda, we provide nationwide telehealth physiotherapy—perfect for workers with compensable injuries or private clients looking for expert care remotely.

We Help People With:

Chronic cervicogenic headaches due to postural strain
Desk workers with RSI or tech neck
Previous whiplash injuries or neck trauma
Workers' Compensation (WorkCover NSW, icare, etc.) and CTP claims
Remote workers, students, and professionals with neck-related headaches
Comcare and early intervention injuries
Private clients seeking relief from persistent headache and neck pain

📍 In-Person Care Across the Sutherland Shire

We treat clients from Miranda, Caringbah, Gymea, Sylvania, Kirrawee, Cronulla, Menai, and across the Sutherland Shire. Our Miranda clinic is known for personalised, evidence-based care—especially for complex headache and neck pain conditions.

💻 Telehealth Physiotherapy Available Australia-Wide

Whether you're in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin, or a regional centre, we can support you via secure, remote telehealth physiotherapy.

We frequently work with clients from:

Western Sydney, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Geelong, Newcastle, Wollongong, and beyond
State and federal Workers’ Compensation, CTP, and Comcare
Private patients with chronic headache or neck pain

Start Your Recovery from Cervicogenic Headaches Today

At PACT Physio & Rehab, we know how disruptive chronic headaches can be—especially when they’re caused by your job, lifestyle or an old injury. Our approach blends hands-on care, modern physiotherapy techniques, and expert guidance to get real results.

👉 Book Your Appointment Today
📍 Visit us at our clinic in Miranda, NSW
💻 Telehealth available Australia-wide
📞 Call (02) 8330 6776

Let’s get your headaches under control—starting today.

Book Your Appointment Today

Don’t let suboccipital pain take over your day. Book an appointment with Andrew Ellis, physiotherapist and dry needling expert, and start your path to recovery.

👉Book Your Appointment | PACT Physio & Rehab
📞 (02) 8330 6776