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What is cervicogenic headache?
A cervicogenic headache is head pain referred from structures in the neck. It often starts near the upper neck or base of the skull and changes with cervical posture, movement, or sustained positions.
The same label can behave differently from one person to the next. The timing, location, type of symptoms, injury mechanism, and response to movement help distinguish a local tissue problem from referred pain, nerve involvement, or a pattern that should be evaluated elsewhere first.
Common signs of cervicogenic headache
People do not need every sign below to fit this pattern. They are useful clues to discuss during an evaluation, especially when paired with what changes the symptom and what activity has become difficult.
- one-sided head pain that begins in the neck
- reduced neck motion
- pain near the base of the skull
- headache reproduced by neck position
What may be loading the area
A contributor is not always a single cause. Tissue capacity, recovery, the size of a recent load change, and the mechanics of the task can overlap. For cervicogenic headache, the history commonly examines:
- 1upper-cervical joint irritation
- 2neck muscle guarding
- 3long periods in one head position
What a useful assessment should answer
An assessment begins with the story, then tests the findings that can change a decision. For this presentation, that usually means looking at the items below and comparing them with the demands of work, daily life, or sport.
Imaging can be useful when the history or examination indicates it, but a scan is not a substitute for matching the finding to symptoms, function, and the clinical screen.
Clinically reviewed
Reviewed by Dr. Tamara Lovelace, DC, DACBSP, ICCSP, Chiropractic Sports Doctor and clinic director, on August 25, 2026.
This page explains what we look at and what care can involve. It is not a diagnosis, and it cannot replace an examination. Bring the problem in and a provider will tell you what is going on.
