Chiropractic
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Tension headache, or tension-type headache, feels like a dull pressure or tightness around the head, and very often it starts in tense neck and shoulder muscles. When these muscles are overloaded from long hours of sitting, looking at a screen or stress, the pain spreads to the back of the head, the temples and the forehead. For most people, what helps is relaxing the tense muscles, manual techniques and massage, chiropractic where the assessment supports it, posture correction and exercise. At Fizio Spa in the centre of Zrenjanin we assess and treat neck tension, and you can book an appointment online in a couple of minutes. This article is for information only and is not a substitute for a professional examination.
Below we explain what exactly tension headache is, how the neck causes head pain, what the typical symptoms are and what specifically helps. If you are not sure what is happening to you, come in for an assessment and we will decide on the next step together.
Tension headache is the most common type of headache. It feels like a tight band or pressure on both sides of the head, usually mild to moderate, without throbbing. Unlike migraine, it is rarely accompanied by severe nausea and usually does not get worse with ordinary movement. In many people it is clearly linked to tension in the muscles of the neck, shoulders and scalp, which is why it is called a tension headache.
The muscles of the neck and upper back are connected to the base of the skull. When we hold our head tilted towards a screen or phone for a long time, these muscles work overtime and become tense. The tension creates sensitive points that can “send” pain upwards, to the back of the head, behind the eyes and into the temples. A headache that starts in the neck like this is professionally called cervicogenic. That is why, with a persistent headache, we always examine the neck and not just the head.
Typical symptoms are a dull pressure or tightness around the whole head, a feeling of heaviness at the back of the head and tightness in the neck and shoulders. The pain is often on both sides and can last from half an hour to several hours, and in some people it recurs for days. Many notice that it gets worse towards the end of the working day, after long periods of sitting or during stressful times. If, along with the headache, you also feel neck stiffness that comes back day after day, that is a common sign that the source should be sought in the muscles and posture.
When the cause is muscle tension, the goal is to relax those muscles and restore normal mobility to the neck. In practice, a combination of several approaches works best:
Massage and manual techniques. Targeted relaxation of tense muscles in the neck, shoulders and upper back reduces the pressure that spreads to the head. For many people the feeling of tightness eases after the very first treatment. We write more about the types of treatment on the Massage page.
Chiropractic based on assessment. When, in addition to tension, there is also reduced mobility of the cervical vertebrae, careful techniques can restore range of motion and ease symptoms. We always do this after an assessment and only when it is safe. We explain in more detail on the Chiropractic page.
Exercise and posture correction. A few simple stretching and strengthening exercises, together with adjusting your screen height, give a longer-lasting effect than any single treatment. We will show them to you so you can do them at home too.
One note: these approaches ease symptoms when the source is muscle tension, but they do not replace a medical assessment if the headache is severe, new or unusual.
Most of prevention lies in the little things you repeat every day. Set the top edge of your screen at eye level so you do not bend your neck. Take a short break every 30 to 45 minutes and gently turn and stretch your neck a few times. Make sure your shoulders are not raised towards your ears while you work or drive. Drink enough water, sleep on a pillow that keeps your neck in a neutral position, and try to reduce stress, because for many people it is “stored” precisely in the shoulders and neck.
If a tension headache lasts for days, keeps coming back or disrupts your sleep and work, it makes sense for us to assess your neck and suggest a plan. Physiotherapy and, where needed, targeted manual techniques often resolve exactly this type of problem. We explain the recovery programme and the assessment in more detail on the Physical therapy page.
Some signs, however, are not for massage and require urgent medical assessment. Contact a doctor or emergency services immediately if the headache is sudden and very severe, if it is accompanied by disturbed vision or speech, weakness or numbness in the body, high fever and a stiff neck, or if it followed a blow to the head. In these situations you see a doctor first, and only after that assessment do we talk about recovery.
Troubled by a headache that keeps starting in your neck? Tell us how it comes on and how long it lasts, and together we will find the approach that suits you.
Fizio Spa is located in the very centre of Zrenjanin, at Trg Slobode 3, in hotel Vojvodina. We have 20 years of experience and a 5.0 rating based on more than 2,729 reviews. We offer neck tension assessment, massage, chiropractic based on assessment and an exercise programme, and you can choose your appointment online in a couple of minutes. If you are not sure what you need, contact us and we will advise you.
Tension headache is most often a dull, squeezing pressure on both sides of the head, frequently with neck and shoulder tension, and it usually does not get worse with movement. Migraine is more often a severe, throbbing pain on one side, with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. These are general guidelines; an accurate assessment is given by a doctor.
Yes. Tense muscles in the neck and upper back can transmit pain to the back of the head, the temples and the forehead. This is often called cervicogenic or tension headache and typically appears after long periods of sitting, looking at a screen or stress.
For many people, relaxing tense neck and shoulder muscles reduces the frequency and intensity of tension headaches. Massage and manual techniques alone do not remove the cause, but they can significantly ease symptoms when the source is muscle tension. For a longer-lasting effect, we combine treatment with exercise and posture correction.
Contact a doctor or emergency services immediately if the headache is sudden and very severe, if it is accompanied by disturbed vision or speech, weakness or numbness, high fever and a stiff neck, or if it followed a head injury. These are not symptoms for massage, but for urgent medical assessment.
Many people feel relief after the very first treatment, but for persistent tension we usually suggest several visits over a shorter period, along with exercises at home. The plan depends on the cause and how long the symptoms have lasted, so we agree on it after a short assessment.
Choose a time that suits you and come in for an assessment and treatment in the centre of Zrenjanin. If you are not sure what you need, we will suggest an approach on the spot.
Book online