Headache Clinic Perth
Don’t let Headaches control your life, effective drug free treatment is finally here.
How does it work?
Headache Clinic Perth is a dedicated physiotherapy clinic, located within Body Business Physiotherapy, which works exclusively to identify and treat the cause of headache and migraine symptoms. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that hypersensitivity of the brain-stem plays a role in headache and migraine. If you have a hypersensitive brain-stem, your headache or migraine could be coming from your neck.
Our treating practitioner, Jodie Zollner, attended the Watson Headache® Institute, Level 1 Foundation course in 2006 and Level 2 Consolidation course in 2011. These courses were based on the Watson Headache® Approach, a protocol for the skilled assessment and management of the upper cervical (neck) spine in headache and migraine conditions. The Watson Headache® Approach is recognised as a scientifically researched method of examination and treatment.
The diagnostic accuracy of the Watson Headache® Approach is unparalleled. It can confirm if disorders in the upper neck are responsible for headache or migraine and determine the exact nature of the disorder as well as which spinal joints are involved. There is no guesswork and no cracking or manipulation. Its unique and powerful feature involves temporarily reproducing and resolution (easing) of usual head pain. For further information go to: www.watsonheadache.com
What can patients expect in their first treatment session?
In the first appointment a patient can expect to have a thorough assessment including a detailed history, safety screening and key clinical tests to determine if the source of the headache or migraine is from the neck joints. This will also determine if they are in the 80% of sufferers in whom the neck can be used to desensitise the brain-stem or ‘turn down the volume’ in the headache center.
The physical examination involves assessing posture, mobility and then performing gentle sustained stretches in the top 3 joints of the neck to temporarily reproduce the headache symptoms. This stretch will be sustained until the symptoms resolve thus confirming your neck is involved and treatment can then commence.
How long does it take for patients to start seeing improvements?
A patient can expect to see significant improvements in headache symptoms within 5- 6 treatment sessions with in 2-3 week period. It is important to have treatment sessions in regular intervals initially to effectively desensitise the headache center. After this treatment block, there should be a significant improvement in symptoms, which will indicate that further treatment will be beneficial. Patients are also given strategies to use at home to help control your headache and migraine long term.
Should significant improvement not be achieved in this time, treatment will stop.