| How a UK based Physiotherapist, Jayne Davies, has | | | | cervicogenic (neck) disorders can be instrumental in |
| helped headache and migraine sufferers using the | | | | the headache and migraine process. |
| ‘Watson Headache Approach’. | | | | Although Physiotherapy, Chiropractic and Osteopathy |
| Physiotherapist Jayne Davies finds it frustrating that | | | | are different disciplines, we are supporters of the |
| physiotherapy for headaches does not get the | | | | idea that headache and migraine sufferers, no matter |
| publicity it deserves. Ms Davies works in both the | | | | what their diagnoses, can be helped to live their lives |
| NHS and privately, and has trained in a variety of | | | | more effectively through appropriate neck treatment. |
| techniques for treating headaches. | | | | However, because treatment of the neck does not |
| She says a breakthrough only occurred in her work | | | | fit the medical model of headache and migraine, the |
| after taking Dean Watson’s course, and she is | | | | model has demonstrated little interest in exploring this |
| now an assistant teacher on the UK courses. | | | | as an option. It is essential that all factors, which |
| “It’s quite amazing. I’ve had a lot of | | | | have the potential to sensitise the brainstem, be |
| patients who have had migraines for years and they | | | | investigated equally. Currently this is not the |
| have gone completely after using Dean | | | | situation – the neck is largely disregarded. |
| Watson’s treatment, although this doesn’t | | | | So, whilst is also about Education, it is also a directory |
| happen for everyone.” | | | | for headache and migraine sufferers to source |
| Quoted in Frontline Magazine, Issue 17th June 2009, | | | | practitioners who have a particular interest in and are |
| the official journal of the Chartered Society of | | | | skilled in examination of the neck as a source of your |
| Physiotherapy in the United Kingdom, Titled | | | | headache or migraine – to create a more |
| “When Headache is a Pain the Neck” by | | | | comprehensive approach and provide an alternative, |
| Louise Hunt | | | | medication-free treatment.ver the past 15 years I |
| ==== | | | | have developed a series of techniques, which, by |
| YourHeadacheSoultions.co.uk is one voice of the | | | | way of temporary reproduction of headache and |
| Watson Headache Institute. | | | | easing of the headache as a technique is sustained, |
| The Watson Headache Institute was established to | | | | confirm that a neck disorder is the cause of or a |
| increase the awareness of cervicogenic (neck) | | | | significant factor in the mechanism of the headache |
| disorders in headache and migraine by imparting my | | | | or migraine – this a key diagnostic criterion for |
| (and that of others) clinical experience and | | | | cervicogenic or neck involvement in headache |
| knowledge; to present and discuss past and present | | | | according to the International Headache Society – |
| relevant research and to undertake and support | | | | importantly for the disorder to be related to the |
| rigorous clinical and scientific research in this specialty. | | | | headache or migraine process the headache has to |
| Appropriate and up-to-date knowledge is | | | | ease as the technique is maintained. If both |
| self-empowering; I believe that every headache | | | | reproduction and lessening are not possible then the |
| sufferer has the right to know their headache | | | | neck may not be the source of the headache or |
| diagnosis as precisely as possible (and what it | | | | migraine. Furthermore my experience has shown that |
| means), to know the nature of their headache | | | | if the techniques are performed in a specific manner |
| disorder, its outcome and possible types of | | | | it is possible to determine which spinal segment is the |
| treatment. | | | | cause of or contributing significantly to headache and |
| What has yet to gain acceptance is my (and that of | | | | migraine. Having determined which spinal segment (or |
| others) belief, supported by my unparalleled clinical | | | | segments — there may be more than one) is |
| experience and a significant body of international | | | | involved then this significantly increases the chance of |
| research, that it is incorrect to consider headache and | | | | the treatment being successful because treatment |
| migraine types as totally different entities and that | | | | can be directed at specific, relevant spinal segments. |