27/09/2026
Neck pain and headache frequently overlap — but neck pain does not automatically mean the neck is causing the headache.
In migraine, neck pain is extremely common and may occur as part of the premonitory phase. Importantly, many people with migraine and neck pain have no significant musculoskeletal impairment, suggesting that altered pain processing and trigeminocervical sensitisation may be contributing.
Clinical reasoning should therefore consider the type of headache, musculoskeletal findings and wider biopsychosocial factors.
When the musculoskeletal component is more prominent, such as in cervicogenic or tension-type headaches, joint mobilisation and manual therapy may be useful. When there is little evidence of musculoskeletal impairment, approaches targeting pain processing, education and appropriate exercise may be more relevant.
