Headache Reference Materials

This section is compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to:     Frankp@chiro.org

	Initial Provider/First Contact and Chiropractic A Chiro.Org article collection Although it's long been suspected, it's finally well-documented that higher patient satisfaction rates, faster return-to-work, and significant savings occur when your first choice for care is with a chiropractor, when you suffer from low back pain, neck pain or headaches.
	Headache Guidelines A Chiro.Org article collection Review this JMPT article titled: “Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Chiropractic Treatment of Adults With Headache” and another guideline from the Guidelines Development Committee titled: “Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Headache Disorders in Adults”
	Chiropractors Are the Spinal Health Care Experts A Chiro.Org article collection Enjoy these learned articles about chiropractors as first-contact Spinal Health Care Experts.
	Headaches in Children A Chiro.Org article collection This collection from our Pediatrics section focuses on headaches in children.
	Neck and Back Pain in Children A Chiro.Org article collection This collection from our Pediatrics section specifically focuses on neck and spinal pain in children.
	The Forward Head Posture Page A Chiro.Org article collection Persistent forward head posture (a.k.a “hyperkyphotic posture”) forces the suboccipital muscles to remain in constant contraction as they elevate the chin, and this puts pressure on the 3 suboccipital nerves. This nerve compression may cause headaches at the base of the skull, and can also mimic sinus (frontal) headaches.
	Headache Classification System A Chiro.Org collection This page differentiates between “primary” and “secondary” headaches, and then describes these primary headache types: Cervicogenic, Tension-type, Migraine, and Cluster headaches.
	Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Chiropractic Treatment of Adults With Headache J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2011 (Jun); 34 (5): 274–289 ~ FULL TEXT Evidence suggests that chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation, improves migraine and cervicogenic headaches. The type, frequency, dosage, and duration of treatment(s) should be based on guideline recommendations, clinical experience, and findings. Evidence for the use of spinal manipulation as an isolated intervention for patients with tension-type headache remains equivocal. You may also want to review the Headache Guidelines
	Behavioral and Physical Treatments for Tension-type and Cervicogenic Headache Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research ~ 2001 In 1996, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) was scheduled to produce a set of clinical practice guidelines on available treatment alternatives for headache. This headache project was based on the systematic evaluation of the literature by a multidisciplinary panel of experts. Due to largely political circumstances, however, their efforts never came to fruition. The work was never released as guidelines, but was instead transformed with modifications and budget cuts into a set of evidence reports on only migraine headache. Thanks to FCER funding, the evidence reports have now been updated on both cervicogenic and tension-type headaches. You might also enjoy Dr. Anthony Rosner's discussion You may download the full 10-page Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version.   You will also enjoy FCER's announcement on the initial publication of the Duke Report.

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Updated 6-08-2023