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The Headache and Neck Pain Clinic

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The Headache and Neck Pain Clinic

Evidence-based Chiropractic, Naturopathic, and Clinical Nutrition Medicine for the treatment of head

03/08/2026

What Causes Cervicogenic Headaches? New Research Highlights Important Clues

Not every headache is a migraine.

New research comparing people with cervicogenic headache (a headache that originates from the neck) with people who have migraine found several important differences that may help improve diagnosis.

People with cervicogenic headache were more likely to:
✔️ Have neck pain even when they weren't experiencing a headache.
✔️ Have tenderness at the base of the skull (greater occipital nerve).
✔️ Develop headaches later in life.
✔️ Sleep on their stomach (belly sleeping).
✔️ Smoke.
✔️ Have low vitamin B12 levels.

The researchers concluded that these factors were independently associated with cervicogenic headache. However, because this was an observational study, the findings show an association rather than proving these factors are the cause.

If you experience persistent headaches together with neck pain, an accurate assessment is important. Identifying the type of headache is one of the first steps towards selecting the most appropriate treatment.

Nowaczewska M, Kierońska-Siwak S, Straburzyński M, Waliszewska-Prosół M, Gryglas-Dworak A. Clinical, demographic, and lifestyle characteristics of patients with cervicogenic headache: comparison with an age- and sex-matched group of individuals with migraine. J Headache Pain. 2026;27(1):161. doi: 10.1186/s10194-026-02401-3

27/07/2026

💙 Could your everyday habits influence your back and neck health?

A new study found that people with poorer lifestyle habits—especially lower levels of physical activity—were more likely to report low back pain, neck pain, and difficulties with everyday activities related to back or neck problems.

The researchers also found that the combination of poor metabolic health and unhealthy lifestyle habits was linked with the highest likelihood of low back pain and functional limitations.

✨ The takeaway? Looking after your overall health matters. Staying active, maintaining metabolic health, and making healthy lifestyle choices may all play an important role in supporting musculoskeletal wellbeing.

Remember: this study shows an association, not proof that these factors directly cause pain.

Xie C, Li Q, Xin J, Jiang X, He Q, Bian W, Yu D, Lin Y, Yao Z. Individual and combined associations of modifiable metabolic health and lifestyle with low back pain, neck pain, and functional limitation: evidence from a nationally cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2026 May 1;26(1):1902. doi: 10.1186/s12889-026-27651-3

Read more: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-026-27651-3

20/07/2026

🌍 Did you know?
Tomorrow, an estimated 642 million people around the world will experience a headache.

A major international study found that:
💙 About 1 in 8 adults has a headache on any given day.
🧠 Nearly half of those headaches are migraine.
📉 Many people underestimate how often they experience headaches, meaning the true impact of headache disorders may be larger than we realise.

Headaches aren't "just a headache." They affect work, family life, study, and overall wellbeing for millions of people every day.

Greater awareness, earlier diagnosis and better access to effective care can make a real difference.

📚 Learn more: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s10194-026-02359-2

13/07/2026

🩺 New research highlights another reason why movement matters in chronic pain.

A large study involving more than 453,000 adults found that people living with chronic pain had a higher risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE)—a condition that includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Researchers also looked at how we spend our 24 hours each day. They found that physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep may help explain part of the link between chronic pain and VTE risk.

💡 In exploratory analyses, replacing one hour of sleep with physical activity was associated with a lower VTE risk in people with multisite chronic pain. However, the researchers emphasise that these findings are observational and do not prove that making these changes will reduce risk.

This study adds to growing evidence that healthy movement behaviours may play an important role in overall health for people living with chronic pain—and highlights the need for more research.

🔗 Read the study to learn more. Huang X, Gao D, Ji M, Zhang Y, Dai Y, Pan Y, Liu Y, Wu A, Zheng F, Xie W. 24-h movement behaviors and the association of chronic pain with venous thromboembolism risk. J Clin Anesth. 2026 Jun;112:112227. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2026.112227. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0952818026001054?via%3Dihub

Photo by Clément Proust

06/07/2026

💡 Did you know that 1 in 5 people living with migraine may also have Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)?

A new research review found that RLS is significantly more common in people with migraine, especially those with:
✨ Migraine with aura
✨ Chronic migraine
✨ Poor sleep quality
✨ Higher levels of pain and disability

RLS can cause uncomfortable sensations and an urge to move the legs, often making it difficult to relax or sleep. Since sleep plays such an important role in migraine management, recognizing and addressing conditions like RLS could make a meaningful difference for many people.

If you live with migraine and frequently experience restless or uncomfortable legs at night, it may be worth discussing with your healthcare professional.

🧠 Better sleep and better migraine care often go h

Photo by Vladimir Gladkov: https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-unrecognizable-female-feet-lying-in-cozy-bed-6213708/

d'Onofrio F, Cropano M, Panzino G, Gaita M, Cicarelli G, Barbanti P, Casucci G, Raimo S, Costanzo A. Migraine and Restless Legs Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis. J Sleep Res. 2026 Jun;35(3):e70202. doi: 10.1111/jsr.70202

29/06/2026

☕️ Can caffeine help migraines… or trigger them?

A new research review found the answer may be: BOTH.

Researchers looked at 19 studies on caffeine and migraine and found:
⚡ Moderate daily caffeine intake may not worsen migraines for most people
⚡ Too much caffeine (especially 3+ drinks/day) can trigger attacks in some individuals
⚡ Suddenly stopping caffeine may also lead to headaches or migraines
⚡ Some genetic studies even linked regular coffee intake with LOWER migraine risk

The takeaway? Consistency may matter more than completely avoiding caffeine.

Everyone’s migraine triggers are different, so tracking your own patterns can help identify what works best for you.

Read more: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12883-026-04955-w
Makhlouf HA, Khelifa H, Batarseh SF, Alfahmi FK, Mansour A, Awadalla YF, Abdelmohsen N, El Arabawy MY, Shaheen O, Kassar O. The impact of caffeine consumption on migraine: a systematic review. BMC Neurol. 2026 May 19;26(1):326. doi: 10.1186/s12883-026-04955-w

Image: Photo by Fahmi Fakhrudin on Unsplash

22/06/2026

😴 Poor sleep. More stress. More pain.

💤 A new study in women aged 40–60 with risk factors for cardiovascular disease found that daily sleep quality, stress, and pain are closely connected. Researchers discovered that pain was more likely to worsen after periods of increased stress — especially on days following poor sleep.

🌙 One of the biggest takeaways? These experiences change from day to day, meaning early support and healthier sleep habits may help reduce both stress and pain before they escalate.

❤ Sleep isn’t just rest — it’s a key part of protecting physical and emotional health.

Salvatore GM, Bercovitz I, Gular S, Arigo D. Ecological Momentary Assessment of Associations Between Sleep Quality, Stress, and Pain Among Women in Midlife with Risk for Cardiovascular Disease. Behav Med. 2026 Apr-Jun;52(2):94-103. doi: 10.1080/08964289.2025.2513319. Epub 2025 Jul 3. PMID: 40607616; PMCID: PMC12332975
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08964289.2025.2513319?scroll=top&needAccess=true

15/06/2026

😴 Sleep and chronic pain are more connected than many people realise.

A new review in EBioMedicine found that poor sleep may actually increase the risk of developing chronic pain — starting as early as childhood. Researchers also showed that pain and sleep problems can reinforce each other throughout life.

Some of the biggest takeaways:
✨ Sleep problems may come BEFORE chronic pain develops
✨ Poor sleep can increase pain sensitivity
✨ Better sleep may help reduce the impact of chronic pain
✨ Sleep should be part of chronic pain treatment conversations

The study highlights how important healthy sleep is for brain health, emotional regulation, inflammation, and recovery.

Prioritising sleep isn’t just about feeling rested — it may be an important part of protecting long-term health.

Kelleher EM, Wall A, Seymour B, Irani A. Why sleep matters in chronic pain: evidence across the lifespan. EBioMedicine. 2026 Mar;125:106158. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2026.106158. Epub 2026 Feb 17. PMID: 41708400; PMCID: PMC12988550.

08/06/2026

💭 When gut pain isn’t just about the gut…

New research highlights how some chronic abdominal pain conditions are actually driven by the brain–gut connection, not visible damage or disease.

Here’s what’s important:
✨ The brain can amplify or misprocess pain signals (called central sensitisation)
✨ Conditions include chronic abdominal pain, abdominal migraine, and even pain worsened by opioids
✨ Treatment isn’t just medication—it can include behavioural therapies and nervous system–focused care

💡 The takeaway?
Chronic gut pain is real—and understanding how the brain and gut interact is key to better care and outcomes.

Fukudo S, Aziz Q, Drossman DA, Van Oudenhove L, Farmer AD, Drewes AM, Szigethy E. Centrally Mediated Disorders of Gastrointestinal Pain. Gastroenterology. 2026 May;170(6):1283-1302. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2025.12.038. Epub 2026 Feb 13. PMID: 41692277.
https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(26)00117-4/fulltext?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2F

01/06/2026

Are you a night owl? 🌙

Your sleep pattern might be linked to pain risk.

A new study found that people with an evening chronotype are more likely to experience different types of pain—including headaches, back pain, and muscle pain.
Overall, night owls had about a 50% higher risk of pain compared to other sleep types.

💡 What this means:
Your natural sleep timing (chronotype) isn’t just about when you feel awake—it could also play a role in how your body experiences pain.

Understanding your sleep pattern might be an important step toward better health and pain management.

Liu Y, Liu Q, Fu Q, Gao B, Xie J, Ji C, Ma Y, Zhang B, Liu Y. Sleep chronotype and its association with coexisting pain outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med. 2026 Jul;143:108897. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108897. Epub 2026 Mar 12. PMID: 41843972.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S138994572600136X?via%3Dihub

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Melbourne, VIC
3000

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Thursday	2pm - 7pm

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