Physiotherapy for Headaches in London

What Are Headaches?

A headache is more than just a sore, achy head. It can feel like a dull ache, a tight band across your forehead, a throbbing behind your eyes, or a heavy pressure at the back of your neck, and it can make even the simplest tasks feel exhausting.

While there are many types of headaches, some are closely linked to physical tension in the body, especially around the neck, shoulders, upper back, or jaw. Things like poor posture, sitting too long without moving, clenching your jaw, or even old neck injuries can all play a role, contributing to headaches that just keep coming back.

These are often known as tension-type or cervicogenic headaches, and they’re surprisingly common. They happen occasionally or they can come around more regularly, and although not all headaches are caused by physical issues, many are made worse by them, and that’s where physiotherapy can help.

By improving your posture, releasing any tight muscles, mobilising the spinal joints, and helping your body move more freely, you can often reduce both the intensity and the frequency of your headaches. And that means fewer disruptions (and a lot more comfort!) in your daily life.

What Can Increase the Risk of Tension-Related Headaches?

Some headaches seem to come out of nowhere, while others build up gradually and are triggered by how we move (or don’t move) throughout the day. These are the ones that physiotherapy can often help with, especially when the source is muscle tension, posture, or stiffness.

Here are some factors that can increase the likelihood you’ll experience tension-related headaches.

• Poor posture, especially from long hours sitting at a desk, reading, or looking down at a screen
• Jaw clenching or teeth grinding (also called bruxism), which is often associated with stress or sleep habits
• Stiffness or limited movement in the neck, which can put pressure on the surrounding muscles and nerves
• Tension in the upper back, shoulders, or neck, building up from repeated daily strain
• Previous neck or whiplash injuries, even if they happened years ago
• Weak core or postural muscles, which can cause your body to slump and put extra stress on your upper body
• Extended screen time or eye strain without enough breaks or changes in position

How Physit Treats Headaches

When your headaches are caused by tension, posture, or movement patterns, hands-on care can make a real difference. At Physit, we bring expert physiotherapy right to your home, so you can start feeling better without the added stress of travelling or sitting in a waiting room. We also find real benefit from assessing your movement in your home, which is one of the places where you spend the most time.

Our approach is gentle, personalised, and focused on achieving long-term results. We take the time to understand what’s behind your headaches, how they’re affecting your day-to-day life, and what your body needs in order to feel more balanced and comfortable.

Here are some ways we help treat headaches.

• Hands-On Relief for Tense Areas: We use gentle manual therapy to ease any signs of tightness in the neck, shoulders, and jaw, which are all areas that often contribute to tension-type headaches. This helps bring back natural movement and reduce any pressure that may be triggering your pain.
• Postural and Ergonomic Assessment and Support: After assessing the spaces you work and live in, we’ll guide you through simple posture adjustments and ergonomic tips that work for your real-life routine, whether working at a desk, reading on the sofa, or sleeping in a certain position.
• Strength and Stability Through Gentle Movement: Targeted exercises can help strengthen the muscles that support your head, neck, and shoulders. With better support comes less strain, and fewer headaches that are linked to poor posture or fatigue.
• Breathing and Relaxation Techniques: Stress often sneaks in through the body. We’ll show you how to use breathing and calming strategies to release tension, ease up on jaw clenching, and help reduce the physical effects of stress that may be contributing to your headaches.
• Personalised Plans That Grow With You: You won’t get a one-size-fits-all program. Your Physit plan will be built just for you, with regular check-ins to see how you’re feeling with exercise adjustments as needed to keep you supported at every stage of your progress.

At Physit, we don’t just treat the symptoms. We make it our goal to help you understand your personal triggers and give you the right tools to proactively manage your headaches. It’s care that’s built around your body, your routine, and your goals.