If you’re regularly experiencing headaches — especially those that start in the neck, spread into the head, or seem to flare up after a long day at your desk — you might be dealing with something called a cervicogenic headache. It’s one of the most commonly overlooked types of headache we see here at Key Osteopaths near Woking, often mislabelled as tension headaches or even migraines. The difference? These headaches don’t start in your head — they start in your neck.
Osteopathy offers a clear, hands-on solution for cervicogenic headaches by addressing the real source of the issue: spinal stiffness, muscular tension and nerve irritation around the upper cervical spine. It’s a natural, non-medicated approach that’s already helped countless people in Woking, Horsell, Mayford and St John’s get back to feeling clear-headed, calm, and pain-free.
Understanding Cervicogenic Headaches – When the Pain Starts in Your Neck
What Is a Cervicogenic Headache and How Is It Different?
A cervicogenic headache is caused by dysfunction in the joints, muscles or nerves in the upper neck. While the pain is felt in the head — often at the base of the skull, behind the eye, or along one side — the true source is irritation or compression in the cervical spine. This kind of headache is typically one-sided, dull or achy in nature, and often gets worse with neck movement, poor posture, or after long periods of sitting.
Unlike migraines, cervicogenic headaches usually don’t come with visual disturbances, nausea, or pulsing sensations. And unlike standard tension headaches, they’re closely tied to neck function and often respond exceptionally well to manual treatment.
How Neck Joints, Muscles and Nerves Trigger Headache Symptoms
The upper neck contains small joints and nerves that sit very close to the base of the skull. When these structures become restricted — whether due to poor posture, prolonged sitting, past injuries, or stress — they can refer pain into the head. The suboccipital muscles, for example, are small but powerful contributors to headache symptoms, and when they’re tight or fatigued, they can compress nerves that radiate pain forward into the temples or behind the eye.
We often see Woking patients with tight upper traps, poor cervical mobility, or muscle imbalances around the shoulders — all of which place increased pressure on these sensitive areas. At Key Osteopaths, our assessments are designed to uncover these underlying mechanical issues and relieve them using hands-on osteopathic techniques. The goal isn’t just to ease the current headache, but to stop it from happening again.
In Woking, we see many people whose persistent headaches actually stem from tension and stiffness in the neck — not from stress or dehydration alone. At Key Osteopaths, we use a hands-on, targeted approach to relieve pressure in the upper spine, reduce muscle tension, and restore normal movement. If neck-related headaches are disrupting your focus or comfort, osteopathy offers a natural and effective way forward — without relying on medication.Anna, Principal Osteopath at Key Osteopaths
What Causes Neck-Related Headaches in Woking?
Cervicogenic headaches rarely happen out of nowhere — they’re usually the result of built-up tension, restricted movement, and daily habits that gradually place more and more strain on the upper neck. In Woking, we consistently see certain patterns and routines that contribute to this issue, particularly among those balancing desk-based jobs, hybrid working, and high levels of screen time.
At Key Osteopaths, we take a detailed look at these lifestyle factors during your assessment, because lasting relief often depends not just on treatment, but on understanding the why behind your pain.
Desk-Based Roles, Driving and Poor Posture Habits
Woking’s business community includes many professionals who spend long hours at a desk — either in town-centre offices or working from home in areas like Horsell, Hook Heath, and Mount Hermon. Over time, this leads to a forward head position, rounded shoulders, and reduced spinal mobility — all of which can create compression at the top of the neck, exactly where cervicogenic headaches originate.
Add in time spent driving (whether commuting into London or travelling across Surrey for meetings), and you’ve got even more time with the head tilted forward and neck muscles under constant tension. Poor posture isn’t just an aesthetic issue — it’s one of the most common root causes of headache symptoms we treat at the clinic.
Remote Work and ‘Tech Neck’ – A Growing Cause in Woking Offices
Since the rise of remote work, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in what’s now commonly known as “tech neck.” Laptop use at kitchen tables, working from sofas, and multitasking across multiple screens all contribute to strain through the cervical spine and upper back.
In many Woking homes, especially those without dedicated home office setups, people are unknowingly placing their necks under daily strain. It’s not just poor positioning — it’s the lack of movement that matters. Staying locked in one posture for hours at a time reduces circulation, increases tension, and often leads to recurring neck-based headaches.
We help patients identify these patterns and offer realistic changes that actually fit into busy routines — not just “sit up straight” reminders, but ergonomic tweaks and movement strategies tailored to their working environment.
The Overlooked Role of Stress, Jaw Clenching and Sleep Quality
Physical tension isn’t the only factor. Many Woking patients dealing with chronic headaches also report high stress levels — whether from demanding jobs, disrupted sleep, or daily pressures. Stress can increase muscle tension, particularly around the upper neck, shoulders, and jaw.
Jaw clenching (especially during sleep) is another major contributor to cervicogenic and tension-type headaches. When the jaw is tight, it pulls on the muscles and fascia at the base of the skull, directly influencing the areas that refer pain into the head.
Sleep quality also plays a role — poor sleep posture, unsupportive pillows, or shallow breathing all add to overnight strain. At Key Osteopaths, we assess not only how you sit and move, but how you rest, decompress, and recover. Because long-term relief isn’t just about what happens in the clinic — it’s about how you support your body the other 23 hours of the day.
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Rosie treated our baby boy for and it made a huge difference. After the treatment he started sleeping better and crying less. A big relif
Richard SprakeAnna is highly knowledgeable and identifies the source of any pain quickly. She then works with you to resolve any issues and doesn’t rely on session after session but instead… read more
Peter HinesI contacted Anna at a time of urgent need and she was able to see me very quickly. She is professional and friendly. Not only did she help with the… read more
Julia BeresfordOsteopathic Treatment for Headaches in Woking
At Key Osteopaths, we take a comprehensive approach to treating cervicogenic and posture-related headaches. Instead of masking the symptoms with painkillers or endlessly stretching tight muscles, we focus on addressing the mechanical causes of the problem — including restricted spinal joints, muscle imbalances, and habitual tension patterns in the neck and shoulders.
Whether your headaches are occasional or constant, dull or sharp, we tailor each session to what your body needs. Our aim is not only to relieve your pain but to help you understand what’s driving it and how to keep it from returning.
Manual Techniques to Release Tension and Improve Mobility
Using targeted hands-on techniques, we work to ease tight muscles, release joint restrictions, and restore healthy movement through the cervical spine. Osteopathic treatment often includes soft tissue massage, joint articulation, and stretching techniques that relieve pressure on the nerves and muscles contributing to headache symptoms.
Many patients feel immediate relief after treatment — particularly when chronic tension around the base of the skull or the upper trapezius muscles is released. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach — we adapt each session to your body, your symptoms, and your sensitivity level to ensure progress without aggravation.
Targeting the Cervical Spine, Shoulder Girdle and Upper Back
Headaches that originate in the neck rarely stay isolated to one area. Tension and dysfunction tend to spread — often involving the upper thoracic spine, shoulder girdle, and even the jaw and upper ribs. That’s why our osteopaths assess and treat the entire upper body chain, not just the part where the pain is felt.
If your shoulder movement is restricted, or your upper back has stiffened from too much sitting, these areas could be feeding the issue. Treatment here might involve mobilising the shoulder blades, improving ribcage movement, and restoring functional support for your neck — reducing the load that’s been causing your headaches to persist.
Postural and Lifestyle Advice to Prevent Recurrence
Treatment is only part of the solution. To stop headaches from coming back, we give clear, practical advice that fits your lifestyle — not generic instructions that are impossible to follow. This includes:
- Tips for desk setup and screen positioning (ideal for Woking’s hybrid workers)
- Movement breaks and micro-adjustments to avoid static posture during the day
- Pillow recommendations and sleeping positions that reduce overnight strain
- Breathing techniques to reduce stress-related tension across the neck and shoulders
Our goal is to help you leave each appointment not just feeling better, but better equipped — so your day-to-day life in Woking, whether spent at the office, working from home in Horsell, or commuting into London, actively supports your recovery.
When to Seek Professional Help for Headaches in Woking
While the occasional headache can be shrugged off, frequent or persistent head pain — especially when it starts in your neck or flares up after long periods of sitting — shouldn’t be ignored. At Key Osteopaths near Woking, we see many patients who’ve spent months self-treating with painkillers, stretches, or rest, only to find their symptoms gradually worsening or becoming more frequent.
Recognising when to seek expert help can make all the difference. With the right assessment and treatment, cervicogenic headaches are highly manageable — but left untreated, they can become a long-term cycle of discomfort and frustration.
Key Warning Signs Your Headaches Are Coming from the Neck
Not all headaches originate in the head. If your symptoms regularly include neck stiffness, limited range of motion, or pain that travels from the base of the skull into the eye, forehead or temple, there’s a strong chance your headache is cervicogenic in nature.
Other key signs include:
- Headaches that worsen after sitting at a desk or driving
- Pain that’s consistently on one side of the head or face
- Headaches that improve temporarily with movement or massage
- Accompanying tightness in the upper traps, shoulders or jaw
We often find that once neck function is improved through osteopathy, these symptoms ease dramatically — confirming the root cause lies in the cervical spine and surrounding muscles.
When to Stop Self-Treating and Book a Proper Assessment
It’s common to try and manage headaches at home — with over-the-counter medication, stretching apps, or posture reminders. And while these may offer temporary relief, if the pain keeps coming back, it’s time for a more tailored solution.
If you’ve been treating your headaches on your own for more than a couple of weeks without improvement, or you’ve noticed the pain interfering with your work, sleep or mood, don’t keep guessing. At Key Osteopaths, we provide a thorough, head-to-toe assessment to identify the true driver of your symptoms — so you get clarity, not confusion.
The Risks of Leaving Cervicogenic Headaches Untreated
When headaches that originate in the neck are left unaddressed, they often don’t stay the same — they tend to escalate. Over time, muscle tension can increase, joint restrictions become more fixed, and the nervous system becomes more sensitive to even minor movement or postural changes.
We’ve seen many Woking patients who’ve lived with cervicogenic headaches for months or even years, believing they were just “stress headaches” or something they’d have to live with. But with targeted treatment and the right recovery plan, these symptoms can often be resolved far more quickly than expected.
Leaving it too long not only prolongs discomfort — it can also reduce your ability to respond to treatment later on. That’s why we always encourage early assessment, especially when headaches are linked to neck pain, stiffness or lifestyle habits that can be easily improved.
Anna and Francesca are amazing osteopaths. Have really helped me with my neck issues!
JGarnes MusicI felt like a new person after my treatment with Rosie! She was so knowledgeable and caring, I felt really safe in her hands. I will definitely be recommending and… read more
Harriet KitchenAnna takes a holistic and long term approach with my treatment. She often adapts treatment and exercises and is reassuringly confident yet gentle! I have had lots of practitioners over… read more
Lee HarveyBook a Headache Assessment at Our Woking Osteopathy Clinic
If you’re living with frequent headaches that start in the neck or seem to be triggered by your posture, stress or desk setup — it’s time to take a closer look. At Key Osteopaths, we offer detailed assessments for people in Woking, Horsell, Mayford, and the surrounding areas who are ready to move beyond short-term fixes and get to the root of their pain.
Our approach combines expert hands-on treatment with tailored advice to help relieve tension, restore proper movement, and reduce the frequency and intensity of cervicogenic headaches. Whether your symptoms are occasional or constant, we’re here to help you feel clear-headed, pain-free, and back in control.
What to Expect from Your First Appointment
Your initial consultation begins with a detailed conversation about your symptoms — when they started, what they feel like, and what seems to make them better or worse. We’ll also explore your daily routine, stress levels, sleep, and past injuries, all of which can feed into headache patterns.
Next, we carry out a physical assessment focusing on your cervical spine, jaw, shoulders, and upper back, assessing for movement restrictions, muscular tension, and nerve sensitivity. If treatment is appropriate on the day, we’ll begin using gentle osteopathic techniques to release tension, improve mobility and calm the nervous system. You’ll leave with a clear plan for what comes next, including any exercises or habits to focus on between sessions.
How to Prepare – Symptom History and Daily Habit Review
To get the most from your appointment, think about how your symptoms behave across a typical day or week. When do your headaches start? What triggers or relieves them? How long do they last? If you’ve tried anything already — stretches, medication, heat/cold, massage — let us know how your body responded.
It’s also helpful to reflect on your working posture, sleep habits, and any recent changes to your routine. If you work from home, for example, take note of your desk setup — screen height, chair support and hours of sitting can all be significant clues.
Wear comfortable clothing, especially if your neck and upper back will need to be assessed. And don’t worry if you’re experiencing a flare-up on the day — we’ll tailor everything to your current comfort level.
Located Near Woking Town Centre – Evening and Weekend Appointments Available
Our osteopathy clinic is conveniently located near Woking town centre, making it easily accessible from Horsell, St John’s, Mount Hermon, and beyond. Whether you’re walking in from the High Street, driving from nearby villages, or hopping off the train at Woking Station, we’re just a few minutes away with parking available nearby.
We understand how difficult it can be to fit healthcare into a busy schedule — especially if you’re juggling work, family and commuting. That’s why we offer flexible evening and weekend appointments, giving you access to expert care at a time that works for you.
Ready to take the first step towards lasting headache relief? Book your consultation with Key Osteopaths today.