How Can Chiropractic Care Help Your Headaches?
If you’re reading this, you’re probably tired of getting headaches. Maybe it’s that dull band of pressure around your head. Maybe it’s a deep ache behind your eyes, or a throb that always seems to start at the base of your neck. You’ve stretched. You’ve taken painkillers. You’ve pushed through your day. But it keeps coming back. I see this all the time in practice. Patients come in thinking they “just carry stress in their neck,” or that they need a new pillow… only to discover there’s something more to the story. So let’s talk honestly — both from my clinical experience and from the research — about what Chiropractic care can offer to soothe your headaches.
When it’s related to the neck: Cervicogenic Headaches
Cervicogenic headaches are often misdiagnosed or missed entirely. But they’re incredibly common. These are headaches that start in the neck — often from poor posture, an old injury, or restrictions in the upper cervical spine. In the clinic, I’ve seen patients whose headaches went from a daily frustration to becoming more manageable, not through magic, but through consistent, tailored care focused on improving the way their neck and nervous system function.
Research shows: A 2022 meta-analysis found that chiropractic care — especially spinal adjustments combined with neck-focused exercise — led to a 60% reduction in headache intensity for patients with cervicogenic headaches. Over 70% of those patients also reported meaningful, lasting change in their symptoms. These aren’t temporary results — this is real, physiological improvement when we restore proper motion and reduce stress on the nervous system.
Tension-Type Headaches: The Everyday Kind
Tension-type headaches are the most common. They feel like a tight band around the head — dull, achy, and draining. Most people dismiss them as “just stress” or “just life.” But when they become regular, they start affecting your quality of life. Focus, energy, sleep, even mood.
There is research to back this up: In a well-known study, spinal adjustments outperformed medication (amitriptyline) for chronic tension-type headaches — reducing frequency by 42% and intensity by 32%. Even better? The medication group had significantly more side effects. The chiropractic group didn’t. That speaks volumes — not just about effectiveness, but safety.
What Does Treatment Actually Look Like?
For both types of headaches, I tailor care to what your body needs & comfort levels.
That might include:
Gentle spinal adjustments eg. including the activator or drop piece
Soft tissue release for the upper neck and shoulders
Mobility and posture retraining
I never take a one-size-fits-all approach. And I won’t over-treat or overpromise. But I will work with you to get to the root of what’s driving your headaches, and support your body in doing what it’s designed to do: heal.
✨ If You’re Dealing With Headaches — Here’s What I Want You to Know
You’re not overreacting. You’re not weak for wanting relief. And you don’t have to “just manage” it forever. If your headaches are linked to your neck, posture, or stress response — chiropractic care may be exactly what your body needs to reset. Let’s get you feeling clearer, lighter, and more like yourself again.
Ready to chat about it?
Feel free to reach out, book a visit, or even just send a message with your questions. You’re not alone in this. You can contact us at Body Care Health & Chiropractic on 0409 712 075 or send us a message through the Contact Us page on our website!
Dr. Jeunesse Leaia is a chiropractor focused on getting to the root cause of your health concerns. With a special interest in posture, stress, and performance, she helps people live more holistically — one adjustment at a time.
