Migraines
Migraine is a common neurological condition, not “just a bad headache.” Global data suggest that roughly 1 in 7 people live with migraine, with women affected nearly twice as often as men. It is now recognised as one of the leading causes of disability worldwide.
Migraine attacks often come with:
throbbing head pain
nausea
sensitivity to light, sound, or smells
sometimes dizziness, visual changes, or brain fog
The pain is driven by a sensitive nervous system and activation of the trigeminovascular system—a network of pain fibres around the brain’s blood vessels, mainly carried by the trigeminal cranial nerve.
At Roots Health Clinic in Prague, we help people with migraine whose attacks are strongly linked to neck tension, jaw issues, posture, vestibular problems, and lifestyle triggers. We use chiropractic care, physiotherapy, manual therapy, movement-based rehab, and practical lifestyle guidance, and we’re happy to work alongside your GP or neurologist.
Migraine – More Than “Just a Headache”
Migraine can show up as:
throbbing or pulsing head pain (often one-sided)
pain that worsens with activity, light, or noise
nausea and sometimes vomiting
visual changes (flashing lights, zigzags, blind spots)
dizziness, balance problems, or feeling “spacey”
Some people have:
migraine without aura – head pain and sensitivity, but no visual or sensory warning
migraine with aura – visual or sensory changes (or speech disturbance) that come before or with the headache
vestibular migraine – more dizziness and balance issues, sometimes with less obvious head pain
Common things we hear:
“It wipes me out for a day or more.”
“I’m always planning life around my next attack.”
“My scans are ‘normal’ but my life isn’t.”
Our goal is to help you understand what’s driving your attacks, calm down overloaded systems (neck, jaw, vestibular, cranial nerves), and support the medical care you may already be receiving.
⚠️ Important: If you have a sudden, severe “thunderclap” headache, new neurological symptoms (weakness, difficulty speaking, sudden vision loss), or a very different headache from your usual migraine, seek urgent medical attention.
What's going on in the body?
The migraine nervous system
Migraine is now understood as a problem of brain and nervous system sensitivity. Certain networks become easier to trigger, so everyday inputs—hormones, stress, neck tension, bright lights, lack of sleep—can tip your system into an attack.
A key player is the trigeminovascular system:
the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) carries pain signals from the meninges (the coverings of the brain), face, and scalp
these signals activate brainstem and thalamic pathways that process pain, light, sound, and movement
chemical messengers like CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) increase inflammation and sensitivity in these tissues
This is why migraine is not only about blood vessels or “tight muscles,” but about the whole pain-processing system.
Why you might be feeling this way
Common patterns we see in people with migraine:
Hormonal shifts
many women notice attacks around menstruation, pregnancy changes, or perimenopause
migraine is more common in women than men, probably due in part to hormone sensitivity
Neck and jaw overload
long hours at a desk, mobile phone use, or cycling with the head tipped back
stiff upper neck, tender base of the skull, tight jaw or teeth grinding
these areas send signals into the same brainstem centres that process migraine pain
Stress and sleep disruption
“let-down” attacks after a stressful period
irregular sleep, staying up late, or long weekend lie-ins
too much caffeine, or suddenly less caffeine than usual
Sensory overload
bright lights, screen glare, loud environments
strong smells (perfume, cleaning products), crowded spaces
Food, hydration, and blood sugar swings
skipping meals or going long periods without eating
dehydration, alcohol, and some individual food triggers
Migraine isn’t your fault or a sign of weakness. It’s your nervous system saying: “this is too much input for how sensitive I am right now.”
How we can help at Roots
We don’t replace your GP or neurologist. Instead, we focus on neck, jaw, vestibular, and lifestyle factors that can lower your threshold for attacks—and we work alongside your medical team where needed.
Assessment
Your first visit usually includes:
Migraine history
when attacks started, frequency, duration
location and quality of pain
aura, dizziness, visual or sensory symptoms
triggers, medication use, and any family history
Red flag and stroke-risk screening
we check for features that might need urgent care or neurology referral (sudden “worst ever” headache, new neurological deficits, big pattern changes)
Neck, jaw, and posture assessment
mobility and mechanics of the upper cervical spine
muscle tension and tenderness in the neck, shoulders, jaw, and base of skull
jaw movement, clenching or grinding patterns
everyday posture at work, on the phone, and during sport
Basic neurological and vestibular checks
simple cranial nerve screening
balance, eye-head coordination, and basic vestibular tests when dizziness is a feature
From this, we build a plan that respects your nervous system sensitivity, your goals, and any medical treatment you’re already using.
Treatment & active care
Your plan may include:
Chiropractic care (spine and extremities)
gentle joint mobilisation and, where appropriate, low-force manipulation for stiff neck and upper back segments
improving how the upper cervical spine and thoracic spine move and share load
reducing mechanical irritation that can feed into the trigeminal system
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 talk through options and alternatives with you first.
Physiotherapy & movement rehab
specific exercises for deep neck flexors, shoulder blade muscles, and upper back
mobility where you’re too stiff; stability where you’re too loose
graded, tolerable movement to support overall brain and nerve health
in some people with neck-related headache or migraine overlap, manual and exercise therapy can reduce headache frequency and intensity as part of a broader plan
Manual therapy & muscle work
targeted soft-tissue work for tight neck, shoulder, and jaw muscles
gentle techniques at the base of the skull and around the jaw
because these tissues can be sensitive, you may occasionally feel temporary soreness or a short-lived increase in your usual headache after treatment—similar to starting a new exercise. This is usually mild and settles within a day or two. We start gently, adjust to your response, and you always have our email and phone number if anything worries you between visits.
Vestibular and balance exercises (if dizziness is a feature)
drills for eye–head coordination, balance, and movement tolerance
gentle progression to help desensitise an over-reactive vestibular system, in collaboration with your neurologist or ENT doctor where appropriate
Breathing, stress, and lifestyle strategies
simple breathing and down-regulation techniques to calm the nervous system
realistic changes to sleep rhythm, screen habits, and hydration
guidance on movement and activity that support your health without overloading you
We’ll always favour low-risk, well-explained interventions, and we are open about what we can and cannot influence.
Want Support for Migraine Beyond Medication?
If migraine is limiting your work, family life, or sport, you don’t have to manage it alone.
At Roots Health Clinic in Prague, our chiropractors and physiotherapists can help you:
understand how your neck, jaw, posture, vestibular system, and lifestyle interact with migraine
treat irritated structures and calm an overloaded nervous system, using safe, graded approaches
build practical habits that support the medical care you already receive
You’ll always have our email and phone number so you can reach us between visits if you have questions or concerns.
When you should seek emergency care
What people often notice after care
Over time, many clients report:
fewer attack days per month
less intense or shorter attacks when they do happen
easier neck and shoulder movement
less dizziness or motion sensitivity (where this was a problem)
feeling more confident about what helps and what doesn’t
a stronger sense that they’re not powerless in the face of migraine
We can’t promise to “switch off” migraine forever, but we can often help you raise the threshold at which attacks start and support the rest of your care.