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Headaches: Types, Common Causes, and How Physical Therapy Can Help

Have you ever gotten a headache? Chances are pretty good—headache prevalence is estimated at around 50% globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

If you've had one, you know how debilitating headaches can be. The tricky thing is that headaches can come from many different sources. Often, understanding the type of headache and the root cause is the best pathway to effective treatment.

Common Headache Types

There are many headache classifications, but these are the most common:

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are often mechanical in nature (more on that below). Symptoms commonly start at the base of the neck and travel upward into the head and face. Many people describe them as a tight, pressure-like sensation.

Migraines

Migraines are often pounding or throbbing and may come with symptoms like sensitivity to light, noise, and smell. Nausea and vomiting can occur, too. Migraine symptoms can last from a few hours up to a few days.

Sinus Headaches

Sinus headaches typically present in the front of the face, above and below the eyes. They're related to inflammation in the sinus cavities, which can occur with infections, viruses, or allergies. They're often accompanied by congestion, sore throat, or a runny nose.

Hormonal Headaches

Hormonal headaches can vary in presentation but occur in conjunction with hormonal changes (for example, cycle-related shifts, perimenopause/menopause transitions, or other endocrine changes).

Common Causes of Headaches

There are many different causes of headaches. Knowing the cause and type of headache can help you find the right solution.

Illness-related causes: infections, colds, viruses, and allergies. Inflammation of the sinuses can contribute to pressure headaches.
Mechanical causes: meaning movement (or lack of movement) influences your symptoms. Tightness in the upper traps, SCMs, and suboccipital muscles can refer pain into the face and head. Mobility restrictions in the upper cervical spine can also contribute.
Environmental triggers: smoke, pollutants, chemicals, or specific smells may provoke headaches.
Physiological factors: hormones, poor sleep, changes in blood glucose, food sensitivities, alcohol, and dehydration.

Can Physical Therapy Help Headaches?

Oftentimes, yes.

Physical therapists are trained to help determine contributing factors and identify whether there's a mechanical component to your headaches—meaning a range-of-motion limitation, mobility restriction, strength imbalance, or movement pattern that's contributing to symptoms.

This is done through:

A thorough history (symptom pattern, triggers, lifestyle factors, and timeline)
A mechanically based physical exam
Movement assessment and screening to help rule in/out common contributors

Once the headache type and likely drivers are identified, physical therapy may include manual therapy and prescriptive exercises to address those deficits. The overall goal of headache treatment is to understand your pattern so you leave with the education and tools for self-treatment and prevention.

Physical Therapy Treatments for Headaches

Depending on the type of headache, several PT strategies may help, including:

Self-mobility exercises (like cervical retraction, especially for mechanical headaches)
Education on posture, sleeping position, hydration, and lifestyle factors
Stretching and self trigger-point release techniques
Mindfulness/meditation strategies to support nervous system regulation
Strengthening deep cervical flexors, posterior shoulder muscles, and paraspinals
Improving mobility of the cervical and thoracic spine
Joint mobilizations and soft tissue mobilization
Trigger point dry needling (when appropriate)

Ready to Get to the Root of Your Headaches?

Do you get headaches more than once a month? Book online for a free consultation or schedule an appointment so we can help you identify the cause and find the right treatment plan.