If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance headaches are interfering with your day — your work, your sleep, your ability to just feel normal. You’re not alone. Headaches are one of the most common reasons people visit our clinic, and they’re also one of the most under-treated conditions out there.
Here’s the problem: most people reach for medication and push through, never finding out why the headaches keep coming back. And the truth is, the type of headache you have completely changes how it should be treated.
This guide walks you through the most common headache types we see and treat at Progressive Rehab, located in Mississauga and Brampton— what they feel like, what causes them, and how physiotherapy, chiropractic care, and rehabilitation can help you get lasting relief.
1. Tension-Type Headaches
What they feel like: A dull, steady pressure — like a tight band or vice squeezing around your head. Usually felt on both sides, rarely throbbing, and often paired with neck or shoulder tightness.
Tension headaches are the most common headache type worldwide. They’re strongly linked to muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and upper back — often driven by prolonged desk work, poor posture, stress, and disrupted sleep. If you spend long hours at a screen, this one likely sounds familiar.
How we help at Progressive Rehab: Our physiotherapists and chiropractors assess the root cause — whether it’s cervical joint stiffness, overworked muscles, or postural habits built up over years. Treatment typically includes hands-on manual therapy, soft tissue release, postural correction, and a targeted home exercise program. Many patients notice fewer and less intense headaches within just a few sessions.
Ready to stop managing and start recovering? Book a headache assessment at Progressive Rehab →
2. Cervicogenic Headaches (Neck-Driven Headaches)
What they feel like: Pain that originates in the neck and travels upward into the head — often one-sided, sometimes felt behind one eye or at the base of the skull. Turning or extending your neck may trigger or worsen the pain.
Cervicogenic headaches come from the upper cervical spine — the joints, muscles, discs, and nerves at the top of your neck (C1–C3). They’re especially common after whiplash, motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, or years of poor neck posture. They’re frequently misdiagnosed as migraines, which means many people are being treated for the wrong thing.
How we help at Progressive Rehab: Cervicogenic headaches respond exceptionally well to physiotherapy and chiropractic care — the research is clear on this. We use specific manual therapy techniques targeting the upper cervical joints, combined with deep neck flexor strengthening, postural retraining, and movement education. This isn’t just pain relief; it’s addressing the structural cause so headaches don’t keep coming back.
Think your headaches might be coming from your neck? Our physiotherapists can assess and treat cervicogenic headaches →
3. Migraines
What they feel like: Moderate to severe throbbing pain, usually one-sided, that can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and strong sensitivity to light and sound. Episodes typically last 4–72 hours. Some people experience an “aura” beforehand — visual disturbances, tingling, or difficulty with speech.
Migraines are complex neurological events with a genetic component, but they’re rarely random. Common triggers include hormonal changes, certain foods, poor sleep, stress, dehydration, and sensory overload. Importantly, neck tension and cervical spine dysfunction frequently accompany or contribute to migraines — which means there’s often a musculoskeletal piece to treat alongside medical management.
How we help at Progressive Rehab: While migraines are primarily managed by your physician or neurologist, our team works alongside your medical care to reduce triggers and contributing factors. Cervical manual therapy, acupuncture, dry needling, and posture work can meaningfully lower the frequency and severity of migraines for many patients. We also help identify physical triggers you might not have connected to your headaches.
Managing migraines and looking for additional support? Learn how our team works alongside your medical care →
4. Cluster Headaches
What they feel like: Intense, piercing pain centered around one eye — often described as the most severe pain a person can experience. Attacks come with redness, tearing, and nasal congestion on the same side. They occur in “cluster periods” of frequent attacks over weeks or months, followed by remission.
Cluster headaches are neurological in nature and less common than other types, but they’re debilitating. Medical management is essential and primary. Our role is supportive — helping reduce physical and lifestyle contributors that can influence attack frequency and overall quality of life.
How we help at Progressive Rehab: We work collaboratively with your physician or neurologist. Stress reduction strategies, sleep hygiene support, breathing techniques, and reducing musculoskeletal tension can all complement your medical treatment plan.
5. Occipital Neuralgia
What they feel like: Sharp, shooting, burning, or electric shock-like pain starting at the base of the skull and radiating over the back and top of the head — sometimes into the area behind the eye. The scalp may feel tender or hypersensitive to touch.
Occipital neuralgia results from irritation or compression of the occipital nerves, which exit the upper cervical spine and travel up the back of the skull. Causes include suboccipital muscle tightness, trauma, cervical arthritis, or sustained neck flexion positions. It’s commonly mistaken for a migraine — and frequently under-treated as a result.
How we help at Progressive Rehab: Manual therapy targeting the suboccipital region, dry needling, and specific stretching protocols can relieve nerve irritation and reduce the frequency of attacks. In some cases, we collaborate with your physician on nerve block therapy alongside our treatment.
Shooting pain at the back of your head or scalp? Get properly assessed — book at Progressive Rehab →
6. Post-Traumatic & Concussion-Related Headaches
What they feel like: Variable — they can mimic tension headaches, migraines, or cervicogenic headaches. They develop within days to weeks after a head or neck injury. Concussion-related headaches are often accompanied by brain fog, light sensitivity, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating.
Post-traumatic headaches are the most common symptom of post-concussion syndrome and can persist for months if not properly rehabilitated. The challenge is that both the neurological effects of the concussion and the physical trauma to the cervical spine contribute — meaning a purely medical approach often misses half the picture.
How we help at Progressive Rehab: Our concussion rehabilitation program is designed to address both sides. We combine vestibular therapy, graded return-to-activity protocols, cervical spine rehabilitation, and exertion-based progressive loading — all coordinated with your medical team. If you’re stuck in a headache cycle after a concussion, don’t wait. Early and appropriate treatment significantly improves outcomes.
Still dealing with headaches after a concussion or head injury? Our concussion rehab team is here to help →
7. Medication Overuse Headaches (Rebound Headaches)
What they feel like: A dull, daily or near-daily headache — often worst in the morning. Pain medication brings temporary relief, but the headache keeps returning, sometimes more frequently than before.
This is a cycle many people unknowingly fall into. Using pain relievers — including over-the-counter options like ibuprofen or acetaminophen — more than 10 to 15 days per month can paradoxically make headaches more frequent and harder to treat. It’s one of the most common and most under diagnosed headache conditions.
How we help at Progressive Rehab: Breaking the rebound cycle requires a collaborative approach. We work alongside your physician to safely reduce medication dependence while using non-pharmacological strategies — manual therapy, lifestyle coaching, exercise, and behavioural strategies — to manage headache days without triggering the rebound cycle.
⚠️ When to Seek Emergency Medical Care
Most headaches are benign, but some are warning signs of something serious. Go to the ER immediately or call 911 if your headache:
Comes on suddenly and is the worst headache of your life (thunderclap headache)
Is accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, or a skin rash
Follows a head injury or fall
Comes with sudden vision changes, weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking
Is steadily worsening over several days with no clear cause
Frequently Asked Questions About Headache Treatment
Can physiotherapy really help with headaches? Yes — particularly for tension-type and cervicogenic headaches, physiotherapy has strong clinical evidence behind it. Manual therapy targeting the cervical spine, combined with exercise and postural correction, is one of the most effective non-pharmacological treatments available.
How do I know what type of headache I have? A thorough clinical assessment is the best way to find out. Many headache types overlap in symptoms, and a trained clinician can differentiate them based on history, movement assessment, palpation, and neurological screening.
How many sessions will I need? It depends on the type and chronicity of your headaches. Many patients with tension and cervicogenic headaches experience meaningful improvement in 4–8 sessions. Chronic or complex cases may take longer, and we always build a plan specific to you.
Do you work with my doctor? Absolutely. We collaborate with family physicians, neurologists, and other specialists regularly. If you have a referral, great — if not, you can book directly with us.
Ready to Find Out What’s Behind Your Headaches?
You deserve more than just pushing through. A proper assessment is the first step toward actually fixing the problem — not just masking it.
At Progressive Rehab, our physiotherapists, chiropractors, and rehabilitation specialists are experienced in headache assessment and treatment. We look at the whole picture: your cervical spine, your posture, your neurological function, your history — and we build a plan that makes sense for your life.
Here’s how to get started:
📋 Book an Assessment Online — quick and easy, no referral needed
📞 Call us to speak directly with a member of our team
🌐 Learn more about our services at progressiverehab.ca
This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not replace individualized medical or professional advice. If you are experiencing frequent, severe, or sudden headaches, please consult a qualified healthcare provider. Progressive Rehab’s team is happy to work alongside your existing medical care.
Progressive Rehab | progressiverehab.ca | Physiotherapy · Chiropractic · Concussion Rehab · Acupuncture · Rehabilitation