Headaches
Headache disorders are one of the most common health problems in the world. Large reviews suggest that around half of all adults have a headache in any given year, and about 1 in 7 people experience migraine.
Most headaches are not dangerous, but they can be very disruptive—affecting work, concentration, sleep, and mood. The good news: many common headaches are strongly linked to neck mechanics, jaw tension, posture, screen time, stress, sleep, and breathing patterns, which can be improved.
At Roots Health Clinic in Prague, we see people with:
tension-type headaches
neck-related (cervicogenic) headaches
migraines with a mechanical or lifestyle trigger component
We combine chiropractic care, physiotherapy, manual therapy, movement retraining and lifestyle guidance to reduce pain, improve neck and jaw function, and help you feel more in control of your headaches.
From Neck to Nerves: What’s Driving Your Headaches?
Headaches can feel like:
a tight band or pressure around your head
pain behind the eyes or at the temples
throbbing or pulsing on one side
pain that starts in the neck or upper back and climbs up into the head
Common things we hear:
“It always starts at the base of my skull and wraps over my head.”
“Every time I’m stressed or at the computer for too long, I get a headache.”
“I’ve had scans; they say everything is fine, but I still get headaches.”
“Painkillers help, but I don’t want to rely on them forever.”
Our goal is to understand what’s driving your headaches—neck, jaw, posture, lifestyle, or a mix—and build a plan that fits your life.
⚠️ Important: If you ever experience a sudden, severe ‘worst headache of your life’, headache with fever, confusion, weakness, vision loss, speech problems, or after a significant head injury, you should seek urgent medical attention or emergency care.
What's going on in the body?
Most people’s headaches fall into a few broad groups:
Tension-type headaches
often feel like a tight band or pressure
usually linked to muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, scalp, and jaw
commonly triggered by stress, long desk hours, and lack of movement
Migraine
often a throbbing or pulsating pain, usually on one side
can come with nausea, light/sound sensitivity, visual disturbances (aura)
influenced by brain and nervous system sensitivity, hormones, sleep, food, and stress
mechanical triggers (neck/jaw tension, posture) can lower the threshold
Neck-related (cervicogenic) headaches
pain often starts in the upper neck or base of the skull
often on one side, can refer to the eye or forehead
linked to stiff or irritated joints and muscles in the upper neck and shoulders
The anatomy behind many headaches
Several structures work together around the head and neck:
Upper cervical spine (C0–C3): joints and muscles here share nerve pathways with the head and face, so irritation can feel like a head pain.
Trigeminal nerve: the main sensory nerve for the face, eyes, and jaw; closely connected with neck nerves and the brainstem pain centres.
Jaw (TMJ) and chewing muscles: clenching or grinding (often stress-related) can create face, temple, and eye-region headaches.
Muscles and fascia of the neck, shoulders, and scalp: when overloaded or constantly tense, they can refer pain upward.
Breathing and posture: shallow breathing, chest-dominant breathing, and forward-head posture all increase neck and upper back load.
Headache is rarely just one muscle or one joint—it’s usually a combination of:
sensitive nervous system
overloaded or stiff neck/jaw structures
lifestyle and stress patterns
sometimes hormonal and metabolic factors (sleep, blood sugar, hydration, etc.)
Why you might be feeling this way
Common patterns we see in people with headaches:
Long hours at a desk or screen
head drifting forward, shoulders rounding
stiff upper back and neck, tight suboccipital muscles
eye strain and poor work setup
Jaw clenching or teeth grinding
often worse with stress or at night
tight jaw, temple pain, or “pressure behind the eyes”
may go together with neck stiffness
Stress, sleep problems, and nervous system overload
“tired-but-wired” feeling
difficulty winding down at night
irregular sleep schedule, too much caffeine, or skipping meals
Old neck or head injuries
whiplash from a car accident or sports injury
falls or past concussions
lingering stiffness or weakness that keeps the system sensitised
Hormonal and lifestyle triggers
headaches around menstruation
headaches when you don’t drink enough water or skip meals
changes in routine, travel, or disrupted sleep
Very often, your headaches are not a sign that your brain is damaged, but that your system is asking for a better balance of mechanics, recovery, and load.
How we can help at Roots
At Roots Health Clinic in Prague, we combine chiropractic, physiotherapy, and movement-based rehab with a strong focus on neck, jaw, posture, and lifestyle triggers.
Assessment
Your first visit usually includes:
A detailed headache history
onset, frequency, intensity, location
triggers, relieving factors, any aura or neurological symptoms
medication use (to screen for medication-overuse headache)
Red flag screening
we check for signs that might require GP, neurology, or emergency referral
Physical examination
neck and upper back mobility and joint function
muscle tension and trigger points in neck, shoulders, jaw, and scalp
jaw movement and bite-loading patterns (if relevant)
posture and breathing patterns
simple neurological testing where appropriate
From there, we build a plan that matches your headache type and goals.
Treatment & active care
Your plan may include:
Chiropractic care (spine and extremities)
gentle joint mobilisation or manipulation for stiff neck and upper back segments
improving how the upper cervical spine moves and shares load
reducing mechanical irritation that can feed headaches
we use spinal manipulation carefully and minimally—and sometimes not at all—if we think it may aggravate your symptoms or carries any unnecessary risk. We will always discuss options with you first.
Physiotherapy & movement rehab
targeted exercises for deep neck flexors, shoulder blades, and upper back
mobility work where you’re too stiff, stability where you’re too loose
graded exposure to movements you’ve been avoiding
Manual therapy & muscle work
soft-tissue techniques for tight neck, shoulder, and jaw muscles
work on trigger points and myofascial tension that refer pain into the head
gentle techniques around the base of the skull and suboccipital muscles
with very sensitive tissues around the head and neck, it’s possible to feel some temporary soreness or even a short-lived increase in headache after treatment—this is usually mild and settles within a day or two. We adjust the intensity of treatment to your comfort and response, and you’ll always have our email and phone number so you can contact us between visits if anything worries you.
Jaw (TMJ) and posture guidance
awareness and strategies for reducing daytime clenching
simple jaw relaxation drills and neck–jaw coordination work
practical desk, screen, and phone-position advice
Lifestyle & recovery strategies
simple ideas for sleep, hydration, and meal rhythm
guidance on screen breaks, micro-movements, and stress management
where useful, we coordinate with your GP or neurologist for migraine medication or further investigations
We don’t promise to “cure” every headache—especially complex migraine—but we do aim to reduce frequency and intensity, improve function, and give you tools to manage your own triggers, using the safest, lowest-risk options first.
Ready to get to the root of your headaches?
If headaches are limiting your work, family life, or training, you don’t have to keep guessing.
At Roots Health Clinic in Prague, our team of chiropractors and physiotherapists will:
identify the neck, jaw, posture, and lifestyle factors behind your headaches
treat the irritated structures and calm the system, using the safest appropriate techniques
give you clear, practical tools to reduce future flare-ups
You’ll always have our email and phone number so you can reach us between visits if you have questions or concerns.
Track Your Patterns, Spot the Triggers
Many of our clients find it helpful to track their headaches for a few weeks. Simple notes on when, where, and what you were doing before a headache starts can reveal surprising patterns—like posture, sleep, stress, or diet.
We’ll help you make sense of these trends and design a plan that addresses the real drivers of your symptoms.
When you should seek emergency care
You should seek urgent medical attention if you notice:
a sudden, severe “thunderclap” headache
headache with fever, stiff neck, confusion, weakness, or speech/vision changes
headache after a serious head injury
a new type of headache in someone with cancer, immune suppression, or very high blood pressure
We always screen for these features and will refer you promptly if needed.
What people often notice after care
Over time, many of our headache patients report:
fewer headache days per week or month
less intense headaches when they do occur
easier neck and shoulder movement
less “tight band” or “pressure” feeling around the head
fewer painkiller days
better concentration and energy
more confidence that they can influence their own symptoms
Instead of feeling at the mercy of your head, you feel like your body is on your side again.