If headaches keep interrupting your days, you are not alone, and you do not have to just manage with painkillers. We see this every week at the clinic in Bundaberg, and for many people there is a clear path through it. The honest part is that physio helps some kinds of headache far more than others, so the first thing we do is work out which kind you have.
Headache physio in Bundaberg works best for two types. The first is tension headache, the tight band of pressure across the forehead or around the head that often builds through a long day at a desk or after poor sleep. The second is cervicogenic headache, which starts in the neck and is felt in the head. Both respond well to hands-on treatment and the right exercises.
Best for tension and cervicogenic headaches
Hands-on treatment plus targeted exercise
No referral needed to book
Many headaches come from the neck. The top joints of your neck share nerve pathways with your head and face, so when those joints and the muscles around them get stiff or irritated, your brain can feel that as pain in your head rather than your neck. This is what a cervicogenic headache is, a headache that starts in the neck and is referred up into the head.
People often describe a one-sided ache that spreads from the base of the skull up behind the eye, pain that gets worse after long hours at a screen or driving, and a neck that feels tight or restricted. Because the neck and head are so closely linked, this works hand in hand with our neck pain treatment, and we treat them together.
Some headaches need a doctor first, not a physio. A sudden severe headache, the worst headache of your life, a headache after a head knock, or a headache with fever, vision changes, weakness or slurred speech all need urgent medical care. If your headache fits that picture, see your GP or call 000.
Good headache treatment in Bundaberg starts with a proper assessment. We ask about your history and triggers, then check how your neck moves, which joints are stiff and which muscles are tight or tender, so the plan targets the cause rather than chasing the pain.
Hands-on treatment to ease stiff neck joints and release the muscles that refer pain into your head.
Dry needling for headaches in Bundaberg can settle tight, tender muscles in the neck and upper shoulders that feed tension and cervicogenic headaches.
Gentle, guided contractions that restore movement to a stiff neck without forceful manipulation.
Targeted exercises for posture, neck strength and movement so the change holds between sessions and headaches come back less often.
Migraine is different from tension and cervicogenic headache. It is a neurological condition, often with throbbing one-sided pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light or sound. We want to be straight with you, physio is not a cure for migraine. Where physio can help is the neck. Many people with migraine also carry neck tension that can act as a trigger or make attacks worse, and easing that neck component with hands-on treatment and exercise can sometimes reduce how often migraines are set off, alongside the medical care your doctor provides. If migraine is your main problem, your GP or a neurologist should lead your care. See your doctor promptly if your headaches are new, getting worse, changing in pattern, or come with vision changes, weakness, numbness, fever or confusion. If you are not sure where your headache fits, get in touch and we will help you work out the right next step.
Physio for headaches in Bundaberg is covered by most of the ways people fund their care. We accept WorkCover, NDIS, DVA, Medicare Care Plans and most private health funds, so cost is not a barrier to getting your headaches looked at properly. You do not need a referral to book with us directly, though some funded pathways such as Medicare, WorkCover or DVA do require one from your GP. If headaches are wearing you down, book a session and we will work out where they are coming from and map out the next steps together.
Related: Neck pain, browse all the conditions we treat, or get in touch if you are not sure where to start.
Book a session or give us a call and we will map out the next steps together.
Rehab Wise Physiotherapy is an independently owned clinic in Bundaberg, with structured, outcome-focused care that gets you back to what matters.
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