The most common types of headaches that physiotherapists will see during clinical practice are tension type headache, migraine and cervicogenic headache. These headache types have a global prevalence of 38%, 10% and 2.5% respectively.
Cervicogenic headache is a common cause of chronic headache which is often misdiagnsed. This misdiganosis arises from complex overlapping symptoms with several other different types of headache which are commonly seen in clinical practice.
In this new series of courses available to Physioplus members Ari Kaplan will talk you through all you need to know to differentiate and treat cervicogenic headache and cut through the complexity of headaches.
The Tutor – Ari Kaplan
Ari Kaplan is a Physical Therapist with an undergraduate degree in Biomechanics and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Delaware University.
Following his passions with endless energy, Ari has completed several residencies and is a board-certified Sports Specialist, Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a Mechanical Diagnosis Therapist from the McKenzie Institute as well as holds several certifications in manual therapy and dry needling.
Ari is also the co-founder of the Association of Clinical Excellence (ACE), which prides itself on promoting leadership, personal mastery and clinical skills. Ari has a deeply rooted passion for treating patients and contributing to the growth of the physical therapy profession.
The Programme
This is a brand new and exclusive 5 course programme which extensively covers all you need to know to get recognise, differentiate and treat your patients with cervicogenic headache.
Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is a secondary headache that affects up to 4.1 percent of the population and begins in the neck or occipital region and can refer pain to the face and head. CGH is generated by structures innervated by the C1 to C3 nerve roots, including the upper cervical joints and muscles. Cervicogenic headaches may respond to exercise and manual techniques whereas other headache disorders require medical review. In this programme, Ari Kaplan will discuss red flags, the differential diagnosis between different types of headaches, how to assess patients and develop an individualised management plan for the patient with CGHs.
The Courses
You can complete these courses individually as well as through the programme. The five courses are outlined below.
Headache disorders are highly prevalent and are associated with significant disease burden for the individual and the wider community. There are many different types of headaches, from primary headaches like migraine to secondary headaches like cervicogenic headache. Cervicogenic headaches may respond to exercise and manual techniques whereas other headache disorders require medical review. Because physiotherapists often encounter headaches in clinical practice, it is important that you can make a differential diagnosis between different types of headaches and detect any red flag signs and symptoms.
Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is a secondary headache that originates in the cervical spine. CGH is generated by structures innervated by the C1 to C3 nerve roots, including the upper cervical joints and muscles. When the specific causes of the headache are identified, CGH can respond well to physiotherapy management. Treatment must be tailored to fit each patient’s impairments, but a multimodal approach, including manual techniques and exercise rehabilitation, has been found to be beneficial in the management of CGH.
Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is a secondary headache that affects up to 4.1 percent of the population. While the upper three cervical segments have been identified as the source of CGH, dysfunction of the upper trapezius can also be implicated in this headache condition. This course explores in detail the assessment and treatment of the superior scapula, focusing specifically on the relationship of upper trapezius to CGH.
Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is a chronic, secondary headache that originates in the cervical spine. Patients with CGH are highly likely to have myofascial trigger point pain caused by overactivity in their anterior neck muscles, including sternocleidomastoid (SCM), as well as weakness of their deep neck flexors. The anterior (anteriolateral) neck should, therefore, be considered when assessing and treating CGH.
Anterlolateral Neck & Headache
Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is a secondary headache that begins in the neck or occipital region and can refer pain to the face and head. CGH is caused by musculoskeletal dysfunction and research has shown that it responds to physiotherapy management. However, a careful assessment of multiple regions is necessary to ensure that all factors contributing to CGH are identified and addressed. This course, the last in the series on CGH, builds on the information from previous courses and provides a practical guide to the assessment and treatment of CGH.