Top 10 Neck Exercises To Relieve Headaches and Migraine

This exercise aims to help increase the mobility of the whole neck (cervical spine). Looking up is often very uncomfortable for people, however, when you are restricted in one direction of movement it effects your other ranges of movement. Therefore it is important to have good mobility in all directions.

The exercise requires a belt or a strap, something that will be comfortable against your neck though such as a yoga belt or a bathrobe belt. Although you can use something like a leather belt for your pants, this is a very firm material and it is often too thick, therefore making it uncomfortable on the neck and is more likely to cause irritation. That is why something softer is suggested. The strap does need to be firm, however, with little give. So using something like a theraband (stretchy band used for rehabilitation exercises or general exercise) is NOT appropriate for this exercise.

This exercise aims to help increase the mobility of the whole neck (cervical spine). It is VERY common for people to do repetitive movements to one side, even without your realizing it. When we do this it restricts our range of movement in the other direction though as our neck is always used to turning the one way. This exercise helps to balance the neck and improve mobility. Besides doing the exercises, the best course of action to help prevent this from occurring is to reduce activities where you frequently have your head turned to the one side, switch sides and/or get regular movement in both directions. You can, of course, be restricted on both sides of your neck and looking both ways so this exercise can help improve both sides as well.

The exercise requires a belt or a strap, something that will be comfortable against your neck though such as a yoga belt or a bathrobe belt. Although you can use something like a leather belt for your pants, this is a very firm material and it is often too thick, therefore making it uncomfortable on the neck and is more likely to cause irritation. That is why something softer is suggested. The strap does need to be firm, however, with little give. So using something like a theraband (stretchy band used for rehabilitation exercises or general exercise) is NOT appropriate for this exercise.

This exercise aims to help increase the mobility of the whole neck (cervical spine). It is VERY common for people to do repetitive movements turning their head to one side or leaning their head to one side, even without your realizing it. When we do this it restricts our range of movement in the other direction though as our neck is always used to turning the one way. This exercise helps to balance the neck and improve mobility. Besides doing the exercises, the best course of action to help prevent this from occurring is to reduce activities where you frequently have your head turned to the one side or leaning to one side, switch sides and/or get regular movement in both directions. You can, of course, be restricted on both sides of your neck and looking both ways so this exercise can help improve both sides as well.

This exercise aims to help increase the mobility of the whole neck (cervical spine). It is VERY common for people to do repetitive movements to one side, even without your realizing it. When we do this it restricts our range of movement in the other direction though as our neck is always used to turning the one way. This exercise helps to balance the neck and improve mobility. Besides doing the exercises, the best course of action to help prevent this from occurring is to reduce activities where you frequently have your head turned to the one side, switch sides and/or get regular movement in both directions. You can, of course, be restricted on both sides of your neck and looking both ways so this exercise can help improve both sides as well.

This exercise aims to help increase the general mobility of all of your neck. It is VERY common for people to feel stiff, restricted, locked up and/or tight so this exercise is an easy exercise that you can do anywhere at anytime. It can also be used to highlight specific areas of restriction (stuck points) in the neck for you to then use a more targeted exercise on.

These exercises aims to mobilize the upper joints in the neck - the headache and migraine joints. They commonly become restricted due to lifestyle and postural factors (injury as well) and therefore besides performing exercises to help mobilize the joints, the best course of action to help restrictions from reforming are to reduce the aggravating activities and postures.

This exercise aims to help increase the mobility of the whole neck (cervical spine). Looking up is often very uncomfortable for people, however, when you are restricted in one direction of movement it effects your other ranges of movement. Therefore it is important to have good mobility in all directions.

There are several modifications presented in this video as one exercise may work better for one person than another. Although the first exercise (retraction and extension) and the second exercise (retraction, extension and rotation) can help increase the overall mobility of the neck, they are able to mobilize the upper joints in the neck (the headache and migraine joints) more specifically than some of the other extension exercises.

These exercises aims to mobilize the upper joints in the neck - the headache and migraine joints. They commonly become restricted due to lifestyle and postural factors (injury as well) and therefore besides performing exercises to help mobilize the joints, the best course of action to help restrictions from reforming are to reduce the aggravating activities and postures.

This exercise aims to help increase the strength and stability of the neck. The deep neck flexors are an important group of muscles that are the stabilization muscles of the neck, however, they frequently become weak in those that experience headaches and migraine which can lead to neck pain, headaches, migraine and difficulty performing exercises or movements that have neck involvement e.g. getting up from bed, sit ups, overhead actions. This can also lead to muscle tightness in other muscles, such as the muscles at the front of the neck, and so improving the strength and stability of your neck can help to reduce this muscle tension as well.

This is an entry level exercise.

This exercise aims to help increase the strength and stability of the neck. Exercise #9 is also an isometric exercise, however, the exercises in #10 are performed with resistance and against gravity, meaning that they are working your muscles in a slightly different way.

The stability muscles of the neck frequently become weak in those that experience headaches and migraine which can lead to neck pain, headaches, migraine and difficulty performing exercises or movements that have neck involvement e.g. getting up from bed, sit ups, overhead actions. This can also lead to muscle tightness in other muscles, such as the muscles at the front of the neck, and so improving the strength and stability of your neck can help to reduce this muscle tension as well.

It has been a pleasure taking you through this information and exercises. I hope you have enjoyed the course, learnt something new and found it helpful!