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By Canberra Headache Centre

Most people know that neck or stress can cause headaches — but did you know your jaw can play a role too? Jaw-related headaches are often overlooked, yet they can be persistent and frustrating, especially if linked with jaw tension, clenching, or teeth grinding.

The good news? With the right assessment and treatment, jaw-related headaches can be managed effectively by our expert team of physiotherapists who can accurately diagnose and treat jaw pain and headaches potentially driven by jaw dysfunction.

What Is a Jaw-Related Headache?

Jaw-related headaches are headaches that stem from dysfunction in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ — the jaw joint) or from surrounding muscles. Because the jaw shares nerve pathways with the head and face, problems in this area can trigger pain that feels like a headache.

Common features include:
• Pain around the temples, cheeks, or jawline
• Headaches linked to jaw movement, chewing, or clenching
• Associated jaw stiffness, clicking, or tightness
• Sometimes earache, facial pain, or ringing in the ears

What Causes It?

Jaw-related headache is usually a mix of:
1. Jaw dysfunction – tight jaw muscles, clenching/grinding (bruxism), TMJ arthritis, or disc displacement.
2. Neck contribution – jaw and neck are closely linked; stiffness in one often drives the other.
3. Neurological sensitivity – over time, the brainstem can become sensitised to jaw and neck input, creating persistent headache.
4. Lifestyle factors – stress, poor posture, prolonged concentration, or dental issues.

 

Common Triggers

• Stress and teeth grinding
  • Poor posture (especially forward head position)
  • Chewy foods or excessive gum chewing
  • Long dental procedures

How Is It Diagnosed?

There’s no single test. Diagnosis involves a careful history and physical exam, focusing on:
• Headache patterns and triggers
• Jaw movement, clicking, or muscle tenderness
• Neck and posture assessment
• Ruling out other headache types

1. Watson Headache® Approach

The Watson Headache® Approach is a world-renowned, evidence-informed method of examining and treating the upper cervical spine (top three neck joints), which has a powerful influence on headache-related brainstem sensitivity.

By gently identifying and treating dysfunctions in these joints, we can:

• Reduce referred pain to the head
• Desensitise the brainstem
• Address one of the key drivers of chronic headache

This approach is non-invasive, safe, and often highly effective — especially when other treatments haven’t worked.

2. Jaw Manual Therapy and Postural Correction

We use a combination of:

• Joint mobilization of the temporomandibular joint
• Soft tissue release of jaw muscles 
• Postural correction exercises
• Stretching and strengthening routines

to address musculoskeletal contributors to Tension-Type Headache. By improving neck and shoulder mechanics, we reduce strain on the headache-generating areas.

3. Education and Lifestyle Advice

We believe that understanding your condition is one of the most powerful tools for recovery.

Our therapists will help you:

• Identify triggers and contributing factors
• Improve workstation ergonomics
• Develop stress management strategies
• Optimise sleep, hydration, and physical activity

Sometimes small changes in routine — like setting screen-time breaks or adjusting your pillow — can make a huge difference.

Collaborative Care

If we feel you need further medical input, we won’t hesitate to involve your GP, dentist, or TMJ pain specialist. We’re committed to a team-based approach that keeps you at the centre.

Outlook

With the right treatment, jaw-related headaches often improve significantly. Many clients report:
• Reduced headache frequency and severity
• Better jaw comfort and mobility
• Less reliance on medication

When to Seek Help

If you’re experiencing:
• Frequent headaches linked with jaw pain or stiffness
• Headaches that interfere with work, sleep, or daily life
• Ongoing jaw clenching, jaw pain, teeth grinding, or clicking
• Limited jaw movement or associated neck pain
… it’s time to seek professional support.

By Canberra Headache Centre

For many women, migraine attacks seem to strike like clockwork — just before or during their period. This is known as Menstrual Migraine, a common but often under-recognised condition.

These headaches can be particularly severe, long-lasting, and resistant to usual treatments — but support is available at the Canberra Headache Centre where out expert team of physiotherapists can assess, diagnose and help treat headaches that may be driven by the menstrual cycle. 

At Canberra Headache Centre, our expert physiotherapists work with people experiencing all types of headaches, including Tension-Type Headache. Using the Watson Headache® Approach, hands-on manual therapy, and a whole-body perspective, we help clients get to the root of their symptoms and find lasting relief.

What Is a Menstrual Migraine?

A menstrual migraine is a migraine attack linked to hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle. It typically occurs in the days just before or during menstruation, when oestrogen levels drop.

Symptoms are similar to migraine without aura:
• Throbbing or pulsating head pain
• Pain often on one side of the head
• Sensitivity to light, sound, or smell
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fatigue and difficulty concentrating

What Causes It?

The key driver is hormonal fluctuation, especially the sharp fall in oestrogen before menstruation. Other contributing factors include:
• Stress and poor sleep
• Skipped meals or dehydration
• Neck and jaw tension
• Underlying brainstem sensitivity in migraine-prone individuals

 

Common Triggers

• The menstrual cycle (hormonal shifts)
  • Stress
  • Lack of sleep
  • Certain foods (e.g. alcohol, chocolate, processed foods)

How Is It Diagnosed?

Diagnosis is based on recognising the pattern:
• Migraines that reliably occur around the period
• A diary of symptoms can be especially useful
• Physical exam helps rule out other causes and identify contributing neck or musculoskeletal factors

At Canberra Headache Centre, we conduct a thorough physical examination, with particular attention to the upper cervical spine, posture, muscle patterns, and any contributing lifestyle or health factors.

We also help rule out other causes of headache and, when appropriate, work closely with your GP or neurologist for further investigation or management.

How Canberra Headache Centre Can Help

Our physiotherapists are specially trained in treating headache and migraine using a combination of hands-on techniques, education, and rehabilitation strategies.

Here’s how we approach Menstrual Migraine:

1. Watson Headache® Approach

The Watson Headache® Approach is a world-renowned, evidence-informed method of examining and treating the upper cervical spine (top three neck joints), which has a powerful influence on headache-related brainstem sensitivity.

By gently identifying and treating dysfunctions in these joints, we can:

• Reduce referred pain to the head
• Desensitise the brainstem
• Address one of the key drivers of chronic headache

This approach is non-invasive, safe, and often highly effective — especially when other treatments haven’t worked.

2. Manual Therapy and Postural Correction

We use a combination of:

• Joint mobilisation
• Soft tissue release
• Postural correction exercises
• Stretching and strengthening routines

to address musculoskeletal contributors to Menstrual Migraine. By improving neck and shoulder mechanics, we reduce strain on the headache-generating areas.

3. Education and Lifestyle Advice

We believe that understanding your condition is one of the most powerful tools for recovery.

Our therapists will help you:

• Identify triggers and contributing factors
• Improve workstation ergonomics
• Develop stress management strategies
• Optimise sleep, hydration, and physical activity

Sometimes small changes in routine — like setting screen-time breaks or adjusting your pillow — can make a huge difference.

4. Vestibular and Visual Considerations

While not a core feature of Menstrual Migraine, some people also experience symptoms like dizziness, visual strain, or imbalance — especially if the headache has become chronic. Our clinic can assess and treat these through vestibular rehabilitation, gaze retraining, or visual-motor exercises if needed.

 

5. Collaborative Care

If we feel you need further medical input, we won’t hesitate to involve your GP, neurologist, or other allied health providers. Whether it’s medication management, imaging, or specialist referral, we’re committed to a team-based approach that keeps you at the centre.

Outlook

Menstrual Migraine can be highly disruptive, but with the right support many women experience:
• Shorter and less intense attacks
• Fewer days lost to migraine each month
• Better control with fewer medications

You don’t have to “just put up with it.” Effective strategies are available.

When to Seek Help

If you’re experiencing:
• Severe or frequent migraines around your period
• Attacks lasting several days or not responding to medication
• Headaches that significantly disrupt your work, family, or social life
• Increasing reliance on painkillers
… it’s time to seek professional support.

By Canberra Headache Centre

Migraine is often dismissed as “just a headache,” but anyone who lives with it knows it is much more. It’s a neurological condition that affects how the brain processes pain and sensory information.

At Canberra Headache Centre, we work with people experiencing all forms of migraine — with and without aura — using tailored strategies to reduce attacks and improve quality of life.

What Is a Migraine?

Migraine is a recurrent headache disorder, usually presenting with moderate to severe throbbing pain, often on one side of the head. It may last anywhere from a few hours to several days.

There are two main subtypes:

– Migraine without aura (common migraine): The most frequent form. Headache develops without preceding sensory disturbances. 
– Migraine with aura (classic migraine): Headache is preceded or accompanied by temporary neurological symptoms, such as: 
  – Visual changes (flashing lights, zig-zag lines, blind spots) 
  – Numbness or tingling 
  – Speech or language difficulties 
  – Less commonly, weakness or dizziness

Common Symptoms

– Throbbing or pulsating head pain, often one-sided 
– Nausea and/or vomiting 
– Sensitivity to light, sound, or smell 
– Fatigue and difficulty concentrating 
– Aura (in some cases, lasting 5–60 minutes before headache onset)

What Causes Migraine?

Migraine is now understood as a brain sensitivity disorder. It involves abnormal activation of the trigeminal nerve and brainstem, leading to altered processing of pain and sensory input.

Triggers vary, but common ones include: 
– Stress or emotional changes 
– Hormonal shifts (e.g., menstruation, menopause) 
– Poor sleep or fatigue 
– Skipped meals or dehydration 
– Certain foods (alcohol, cheese, chocolate, processed foods) 
– Bright lights, loud sounds, or strong smells

Over time, repeated attacks can sensitise the nervous system, making the brain more reactive to otherwise normal stimuli.

Diagnosis

There is no definitive test for migraine. Diagnosis is based on: 
– Symptom patterns and history 
– Frequency, duration, and nature of attacks 
– Presence or absence of aura 
– Ruling out other causes of headache

At Canberra Headache Centre, we conduct a thorough assessment, focusing on both neurological and musculoskeletal contributors.

How Canberra Headache Centre Can Help

1. Watson Headache® Approach 
   – Targets dysfunction in the upper cervical spine 
   – Helps reduce brainstem sensitivity 
   – Proven effective in migraine management
2. Manual Therapy and Postural Correction 
   – Restores neck and shoulder function 
   – Reduces strain on headache-generating areas
3. Education and Trigger Management 
   – Identifying personal triggers 
   – Improving sleep, hydration, and routine 
   – Stress management strategies
4. Vestibular and Visual Support 
   Some migraine sufferers experience dizziness, visual sensitivity, or imbalance. We provide vestibular rehabilitation and visual-motor training where needed.
5. Collaborative Care 
   We work closely with GPs and neurologists when medication, imaging, or further specialist input is required.

Outlook

With the right management, many people achieve: 
– Reduced frequency and intensity of migraine attacks 
– Shorter recovery times 
– Less reliance on medication 
– Improved daily function and quality of life

Migraine may be complex, but you don’t have to face it alone. Effective treatment and support are available.