Headaches arising from the neck
A headache can start in the neck. This is known as cervicogenic headache. It usually comes with neck pain or stiffness, and the pain often spreads from the back of the head towards the front, on one side.
Headaches arising from the neck are one of the problems chiropractors are trained to assess and treat. Ismail looks at how your neck and upper back move and checks the joints and muscles around them.
Migraine prevention
Ismail also sees people for migraine prevention, alongside the care they get from their GP. He asks about your migraines, what seems to set them off and any medicines you take, and talks through with you whether chiropractic care is right for you.
What happens at your home visit
Your first visit starts with questions about your neck and how often the pain comes, your health and your history. Ismail then carries out a thorough assessment: how you move, your posture, and neurological and orthopaedic checks. He explains what he finds in plain words.
If chiropractic care is right for you, it may include gentle mobilisation or chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue work, and exercises and advice on how you sit and work. He explains what he would like to do and why, and only goes ahead with your consent. If you need a different kind of care, he will tell you and suggest you see your GP. See every step of a home visit.
Get medical help first if
See your GP, call 111, or call 999 in an emergency, if you have a headache and:
- it came on suddenly and is severe, like nothing you have had before
- a high temperature, a stiff neck or a rash
- it started after a head injury
- weakness, numbness, slurred speech, confusion, or changes in your sight
What the research says
A 2025 review of 14 studies with 1,297 people with headaches arising from the neck found that a mobilisation technique (sustained natural apophyseal glides) improved pain and function, with benefits maintained over time, and that neck manipulation may be the most effective short-term option for pain and disability.
A 2020 review of 7 trials found spinal manipulation gave small short-term benefits for the intensity and frequency of headaches arising from the neck, and for disability.
A 2019 review of 6 trials with 677 people found spinal manipulation may reduce the number of migraine days and migraine pain.
An update of the UK evidence report, from the University of Warwick, raised the evidence for spinal mobilisation for headaches arising from the neck from inconclusive to moderate.
Evidence-based guidelines for chiropractors recommend spinal manipulation for headaches arising from the neck (cervicogenic headache), and spinal manipulation and care including massage for people with episodic or chronic migraine.
See all the research behind our care.
Questions
Can a chiropractor help with headaches arising from the neck?
Headaches arising from the neck (cervicogenic headache), and migraine prevention, are among the problems chiropractors are trained to assess and treat. Other kinds of headache need a GP. Ismail starts with a thorough assessment and tells you if you need a different kind of care.
Do I need to see my GP first?
No, you can book directly, without a GP referral. If you have any of the warning signs on this page, get medical help first.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on what Ismail finds. At your report of findings he explains what he recommends, and you decide together.
Checked by Dr Ismail Hassan, Doctor of Chiropractic (GCC 06577), October 2026.