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Headache & Migraine Treatment in Fenton, Michigan

If you’re dealing with headaches that keep coming back — week after week, month after month — medication may be masking the problem, not solving it.

Many chronic headaches originate in the neck, jaw, and upper back. Tight muscles, stiff joints, and irritated nerves in the cervical spine can refer pain directly into your head — creating headaches that feel like migraines but respond to physical therapy, not just pills.

At HealthHQ, our Doctors of Physical Therapy specialize in identifying and treating the musculoskeletal causes of headaches. We use a combination of spinal manipulation, dry needling, and progressive strengthening to attack the root cause of your headache pain.

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Types of Headaches We Treat

Cervicogenic Headaches

Cervicogenic headaches originate in the joints, muscles, or nerves of the upper cervical spine (the top of your neck). They typically cause one-sided head pain that starts at the base of the skull and radiates toward the forehead or behind the eye. These headaches often worsen with sustained postures, neck movement, or pressing on specific spots in the neck.

Physical therapy is the first-line treatment for cervicogenic headaches — and it works. Research shows that spinal manipulation combined with strengthening exercises significantly reduces headache frequency, intensity, and disability.

Tension-Type Headaches

Tension headaches feel like a band of pressure around the head and are often triggered by stress, poor posture, muscle tension in the neck and shoulders, or jaw clenching. Our physical therapists address the muscular and postural contributors to tension headaches through manual therapy, dry needling of trigger points in the upper trapezius and suboccipital muscles, and corrective exercise.

Migraines with Musculoskeletal Contributions

While migraines are a neurological condition, research increasingly shows that musculoskeletal dysfunction in the cervical spine contributes to migraine frequency and intensity. Physical therapy that addresses neck stiffness, trigger points, and muscle weakness can reduce migraine frequency and make episodes less severe — often reducing or eliminating the need for preventive medication.

Our Approach: The S.E.E.D.S. Framework

At HealthHQ, we use a comprehensive approach to headache management that goes beyond the treatment table:

  • Sleep — Consistent wake times and sleep hygiene to reduce headache triggers
  • Eating — Reducing processed sugar and identifying dietary triggers
  • Exercise — Research shows regular exercise is equal to prescription migraine medication in reducing pain (Barber, 2020)
  • Diary — Tracking symptoms to identify patterns and triggers
  • Stress Management — Breathing techniques, mindfulness, and lifestyle modifications to manage stress-related headache triggers
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Stop Managing Headaches — Start Fixing Them

You don’t have to accept chronic headaches as ‘just the way it is.’ Our Doctors of Physical Therapy will evaluate your neck, jaw, posture, and movement patterns to identify the mechanical drivers of your headaches — and build a plan to eliminate them.

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Call or Text: 810-354-5380