HeadachesCan treating the neck help with sinus headaches? Posted on October 7, 2020September 20, 2023 by admin Can treating the neck help with sinus headaches? Can treating the neck help with sinus headaches is a common question we get as neck health specialists. What is sinusitis? Rhinosinusitis a group of disorders characterized by inflammation of the mucosa of the nose and paranasal sinuses. Symptoms in the facial tissues and head are felt by many of us due to the sinuses, but often, the diagnosis is not always “just a sinus headache.” It could be caused by contributions from other areas, such as the neck or cervical spine. There could be local cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction and certain findings could suggest that neck dysfunction may be a comorbid or contributing factor to your headaches. Research connecting the neck and sinus headaches It has been shown in research that up to 84% of persons with sinus headaches have neck pain (Peterson et al 2019) Physicians or individuals often give the diagnosis of sinus headaches to people who actually have migraine or tension-type headaches. This is due do symptoms that appear rhinosinusitis-related such as facial pain and pressure can also be reported by patients with tension-type headache. We see many times that people who have sinus headaches actually do have neck pain with a temporal relationship between the two. Some of us may not recognize the neck as a possible cause or contributing factor to headaches. You can determine if the neck is involved in ways other than simply feeling “pain” in the neck. For persons with “sinus headaches” who also have impaired neck function demonstrate: Less neck flexor muscle endurance Less ROM in the sagittal and transverse planes Greater frequency of painful segmental dysfunction in the upper cervical region. The following pictures show you what this range of motion looks like. Neck flexor muscle endurance test This exercise focuses on testing your neck muscles in the front of your neck. How to do: Lie on your back and tuck your chin to stabilize the neck. Lift the head up towards the ceiling only 1 inch. Hold for 25 seconds Determine if you can hold for this period of time and also what muscles are doing the exercise. Be sure to feel the exercise in front of your neck as shown in the pictures below! ROM testing in the sagittal and transverse planes Cervical Extension Range of Motion – Normal is 70 degrees Neck Extension (Backward Bend): Sit up straight in a chair or stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly tilt your head backward, looking up toward the ceiling. Hold for a few seconds. Slowly return to the starting position. Repeat this movement 5-10 times. Cervical Flexion Range of Motion – Normal is 80 to 90 degrees Neck Flexion (Downward Bend): Sit up straight in a chair or stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly lower your chin towards your chest, bringing your head forward. Hold for a few seconds. Slowly return to the starting position. Repeat this movement 5-10 times. Cervical Spine Rotation – Normal is up to 90 degrees each direction Cervical Spine Rotation Range of Motion – Normal is up to 90 degrees both directions Neck Rotation (Turn Left and Right): Sit up straight in a chair or stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly turn your head to the left, looking over your left shoulder. Hold for a few seconds. Slowly return to the starting position. Repeat the rotation to the right. Perform 5-10 repetitions on each side. Conclusion Research has shown several factors specific to someone who has sinus headaches with neck dysfunction and the pictures below indicate if you are feeling movement like you should. You would just need a skilled clinician to determine if you have painful and limited segmental dysfunction in the upper cervical spine. If you are currently receiving treatment for sinus headaches but not experiencing the relief you need, additional treatment might involve addressing the neck if it is determined that the neck contributes to the headaches We provide a comprehensive treatment approach through our Headache Relief Program. Don’t hesitate to contact us today so we can help you! admin Can neck posture affect how your jaw works? Implication for TMJ Pain. Does your child have headaches? It could be due to the neck muscles.
