Migraines and headaches: treating the trigger, not just the pain.
Physiotherapy and acupuncture for headaches linked to tension, posture and hormones, at our Highgate Hill clinic.
Headaches and migraines are rarely random. Neck tension, posture, stress and hormonal shifts are common, treatable triggers. We look for your pattern, not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis.
Common triggers we assess
- Neck and upper back tension
- Postural strain from desk work
- Stress and poor sleep
- Hormonal fluctuations
Headaches that start in the neck
Many headaches don't actually start in the head. They start in the neck. The joints and muscles at the top of your neck, right at the base of your skull, can send pain signals forward along the same nerve pathways that reach your forehead and the area behind your eyes. That's why a headache can feel like it's sitting right behind your eyes when the real problem is a stiff joint or a tight, sore spot lower down in your neck.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this pattern is often called Liver Yang Rising. Think of it like pressure building up because built-up tension and stress don't have anywhere to go, so they rise upward instead of settling down. This often shows up as tightness through the temples, jaw and the base of the skull. A physiotherapy assessment finds exactly which joints and muscles in your neck are stiff or tight, then treats them directly. Acupuncture works alongside this by calming your nervous system, so that built-up pressure has somewhere to go instead of building up again.
- Physiotherapy
Hands-on treatment and posture correction to release the underlying tension.
- Acupuncture
Calms the nervous system and has research support for migraine frequency and intensity.
- Chinese herbal medicine
Formulas addressing hormonal or stress-related patterns.
Tight trigger points at the base of the skull are often treated with needles, and people are frequently offered dry needling for them. Acupuncture vs dry needling explains what separates the two approaches and when each one suits a headache pattern.
Book nowConditions we commonly help with
Each headache pattern is treated on its own merits, whether the driver is mechanical, hormonal or stress-related.
Book now- Tension headachesLinked to the same tight neck and shoulder muscle pain that often builds up over the day or after a long stretch on a screen.
- Neck headachesDoctors call this a cervicogenic headache. It comes from the joints and muscles in your neck, usually on one side, and gets worse with certain neck movements.
- MigrainesChecked for both physical and hormonal causes, including neck stiffness and where you're at in your monthly cycle.
- Stress-related headachesTreated alongside your nervous system, calming your body's stress response rather than just loosening tight muscle.
- Postural strainFrom long hours at a desk or on a screen, where holding your head forward puts extra load on your upper neck.
- Recurrent patternsTracked over time to find your triggers before the next flare-up, not just settle the one you have now.
What to expect in your session
- We listen first
Your headache pattern, triggers and history.
- A thorough assessment
Identifying neck, postural or hormonal contributors.
- A combined plan
Physiotherapy and acupuncture, layered as your pattern needs.
Recurring headaches deserve more than pain relief. We look for the trigger so fewer come back.
- Physiotherapy assessment of neck and posture
- Acupuncture with research support for migraine
- 20+ years of combined clinical experience
- A tailored plan, not a generic stretch sheet
Patient story
A patient had lived with regular headaches for years before starting treatment. After a handful of sessions the headaches had cleared completely. Rather than treating each headache in isolation as it came, treatment focused on the recurring pattern behind them, easing tension through the neck and settling the nervous system's overreaction so the cycle stopped restarting.
Details altered to protect patient privacy. Individual results vary and depend on your specific condition and history.
Our belief
You play a vital role in your own healthcare. The earlier you seek treatment, the quicker you get better.
Good questions
If scans have come back clear but the headaches haven't stopped, you're not alone. Here's what to know.
My scans came back clear, can you still help?
Yes. Many headaches trace back to neck tension, posture or hormonal patterns that don't show up on a scan but respond well to treatment.
Will acupuncture trigger a migraine?
It's rare. Most people find acupuncture calming rather than triggering, and treatment is adjusted if you're sensitive to stimulation.
How many sessions before headaches reduce?
Many people notice fewer or milder headaches within 4 to 6 sessions, though this varies with how long the pattern has been established.
Do I need a doctor's referral?
No, you can book directly. A referral is only required for WorkCover, Veterans' Affairs, CTP or a Medicare chronic condition management plan.
Can I claim on my private health fund?
In most cases, yes. The clinic is registered with all major health funds for physiotherapy, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, so most policies allow you to claim on the spot through HICAPS and just pay the gap. Check with your fund to confirm your level of cover.
How do I know if a headache needs urgent medical care rather than physio?
A sudden, severe headache unlike any you've had before, or one with fever, neck stiffness, vision loss, weakness or slurred speech, needs urgent medical assessment, not physiotherapy. For the more common recurring patterns, tension headaches, neck-related headaches or hormonal migraines, physiotherapy and acupuncture are a good place to start.
Get to the trigger.
If headaches or migraines keep coming back, we welcome you to Holistic Physio in Highgate Hill.
Tue 1:30–5:30pm
Thu 10am–6:30pm
Closed Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun
- Visit
- 26 Gladstone Rd (Cnr Brook St)
Highgate Hill Qld 4101On-site parking via Brook St - Call
- 07 3844 8202