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Why Your Headaches May Keep Coming Back
That dull ache behind your eyes by mid-afternoon, or the tightness that creeps up your neck and settles into a headache by the end of a work day, can be exhausting to live with. When headaches keep returning, reaching for another painkiller can feel like the only option.
Here at Reformative Health, we take a hands-on approach to headaches where musculoskeletal factors may be relevant, looking at the muscles and joints of your neck, upper back and jaw. Some recurring headaches may have a musculoskeletal component, and this is something osteopathy can assess and help manage as part of your individual care.
How Dr Samantha Evans Approaches Headaches
Not every headache is the same, and the treatment should reflect that. As a registered osteopath with a Master of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr Samantha Evans starts by assessing the type and presentation of your headache, because a tension-type headache associated with neck and shoulder tension is different from a migraine and may require a different approach.
In practice, Sam sees many headaches where the neck may be a contributing factor. Cervicogenic headaches are headaches that originate from structures in the neck and can be felt in the head. By assessing your neck, posture and movement, we can identify whether these factors may be contributing to your symptoms and whether osteopathic care may be appropriate.
The Types of Headaches We Commonly See
We provide osteopathic care for a wide range of musculoskeletal concerns. Our treatments are personalised to each patient, with a focus on supporting movement and managing discomfort. We aim to address not only the symptoms, but also the factors that may be contributing to them.
We regularly provide care for concerns affecting:
Tension-type headaches
Often felt as a tight band around the head and frequently linked to sustained muscle tension, stress and desk-based work.
Cervicogenic headaches
Where pain is referred into the head from the joints and soft tissues of the neck, usually felt more on one side.
Headaches related to jaw tension
This is where clenching or grinding loads the muscles around the jaw and temples.
Migraines
Migraine is a neurological condition that should be diagnosed and managed with your GP. For some people, tension in the neck and upper back can act as a trigger, and osteopathy may be a helpful part of your broader management plan by addressing those musculoskeletal factors.
What Treatment Might Involve
Once we understand what is driving your headaches, treatment here at Reformative Health is tailored to you. Depending on your presentation, that may include gentle joint mobilisation of the neck and upper back, soft tissue work and myofascial release to ease tight muscles, and dry needling to settle trigger points in the shoulders and at the base of the skull.
Just as importantly, Sam will show you how to manage things between visits, whether that is adjusting a desk set-up, simple stretches, or changing how you sit and move through the day. You can find guided movement videos on our Move With Me page to support you between appointments.
When Headaches Have a Nutritional or Hormonal Link
Some headaches may be influenced by factors that sit outside the muscles and joints, such as hydration, sleep, certain foods, or hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle. Because Sam is also qualified in naturopathy, she can consider whether these factors may be playing a role and, where appropriate, discuss nutritional support as part of a broader plan. You can read more about our naturopathy services and how they complement hands-on care.
When To See Your GP
Osteopathy is not appropriate for every headache. If you experience a sudden, severe headache unlike any you have had before, or a headache with fever, vision changes, weakness, slurred speech, or one that follows a head injury, please seek urgent medical care. Part of our role here at Reformative Health is recognising when symptoms may need medical review, and we will recommend review by a GP or other medical practitioner when appropriate.
If recurring headaches are affecting your work, sleep or training, we would like to help you understand what may be contributing to them. Book an appointment online, or get in touch with our Varsity Lakes clinic to talk through your symptoms. We are a short drive from Burleigh Heads, Robina and the wider southern Gold Coast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an osteopath help with headaches?
Osteopathy may help with headaches that have a musculoskeletal component, such as tension-type and cervicogenic headaches associated with the neck and upper back. Here at Reformative Health, we assess your neck, posture and movement to work out whether these factors may be contributing, then tailor treatment accordingly
Can osteopathy help with migraines?
Migraine is a neurological condition, so diagnosis and medical management sit with your GP. Where neck or upper back tension may be a contributing factor, osteopathy may be a helpful part of your management plan, and we will always encourage you to keep your GP involved.
How many sessions will I need?
This varies from person to person and depends on how long you have had symptoms and what may be contributing to them. After your initial assessment, Sam will give you a realistic idea of what to expect rather than a fixed promise.
Where is your clinic?
We are located at Unit 2/8 Flint Court, Varsity Lakes QLD 4227, inside Fit Life Boot Camp, serving the southern Gold Coast including Robina and Burleigh Heads.
Get In Touch With Us
If you'd like to book an appointment, or just ask our team a question, simply fill in the form below and we will be in touch very soon.