Quick Answer
Yes, chiropractic care may help some people experiencing certain types of headaches, especially when neck movement, muscle tension, posture, previous injuries, or other musculoskeletal factors contribute to the problem.
However, not every headache has the same cause. That’s why we start with a thorough consultation and examination rather than assuming chiropractic care is right for everyone.
The Complete Answer
Headaches are common, but that doesn’t mean you should simply accept them as part of everyday life.
Tension headaches, migraines, and cervicogenic headaches can have different causes and contributing factors. Some may involve the neck, muscles, joints, posture, previous injuries, stress, sleep, or daily habits. Others may require medical evaluation or another healthcare provider.
At Chandler Chiropractic, our first goal is to understand why you’re having headaches.
The Connection Between Your Neck and Headaches
Your neck does much more than hold up your head. It protects the spinal cord and contains joints, muscles, and nerves that work together to support movement and function.
When joints in the neck aren’t moving properly, muscles become tight, or posture places repeated stress on the area, those problems may contribute to certain types of headaches.
Previous injuries matter too.
Car accidents, sports injuries, falls, years of computer work, prolonged phone use, and other physical stresses can affect the way your neck moves and functions.
That’s why we look beyond the headache itself.
How Chiropractic Care May Help
When our examination identifies problems involving spinal movement, joint function, muscle tension, or other musculoskeletal factors, chiropractic care may become part of the plan.
Chiropractic adjustments can help improve joint and spinal movement when restrictions are present.
Massage therapy and soft-tissue work may help address muscle tension that accompanies neck pain and certain headaches.
Physical therapy and corrective exercise can help improve mobility, strength, posture, and movement patterns when those factors contribute to the problem.
Posture and ergonomic recommendations can help address the daily stresses created by computers, phones, workstations, driving, studying, and other repetitive activities.
Not everyone needs all of these.
Your examination helps us determine what makes sense for you.
Why We Don’t Simply Chase the Headache
Taking something for a headache may provide temporary symptom relief. Sometimes that’s exactly what someone needs in the moment.
But recurring headaches raise another question:
Why do they keep happening?
We want to know when your headaches started. How often do they occur? Where do you feel them? What triggers them? How long do they last? Do you also experience neck pain, stiffness, dizziness, jaw discomfort, shoulder tension, or other symptoms?
We also ask about previous injuries, posture, work, exercise, sleep, stress, medications, and what you’ve already tried.
Every answer gives us another piece of the puzzle.
A Thorough Examination Matters
We don’t recommend chiropractic care simply because someone walks through our door with a headache.
First, we examine you.
Your examination may include range-of-motion testing, posture assessment, muscle testing, orthopedic and neurological testing, spinal evaluation, and other assessments based on your history.
When clinically appropriate, we may also take digital X-rays to better understand your spinal structure and previous changes or injuries.
Then we put the information together.
If chiropractic care is appropriate, we’ll explain what we found and recommend an individualized plan of care.
If we believe you need additional imaging, medical evaluation, or another healthcare provider, we’ll explain that too.
What About Migraines?
Migraines are complex, and we don’t assume that every migraine comes from the neck or spine.
However, some people experiencing migraines also have neck pain, stiffness, muscle tension, posture concerns, previous injuries, or other musculoskeletal findings.
A thorough examination can help determine whether those factors may be contributing and whether chiropractic care could play a role alongside other appropriate healthcare.
Sometimes chiropractic care is the right place to begin.
Sometimes it works alongside another provider.
Sometimes it isn’t the appropriate answer.
Making that distinction is part of responsible chiropractic care.
What This Means for You
If you experience recurring headaches or migraines, you deserve more than a one-size-fits-all answer.
The first step is understanding your history, your symptoms, and how your body is functioning. From there, we can determine whether chiropractic care may be appropriate and what other forms of care should become part of the conversation.
Our Perspective at Chandler Chiropractic
After more than 22 years of caring for patients, we’ve learned that every headache has a story.
Two people can both say, “I have headaches,” yet have completely different histories, examination findings, triggers, and needs.
That’s why we listen first. We examine thoroughly. We explain what we find. Then we recommend the care we believe is most appropriate for you.
Our goal isn’t simply to chase symptoms. We want to help you understand what may be contributing to your headaches so you can make informed decisions about your health.
Still Have Questions?
If headaches or migraines interfere with work, sleep, exercise, family time, travel, or the activities you enjoy, a comprehensive evaluation can help you better understand what may be contributing.
Contact Chandler Chiropractic to schedule an evaluation at our Chandler or Scottsdale location.
Lasting Results for All Stages of Life.
Reviewed by Dr. Mike Schloemp, DC
September 2026
Dr. Tyler Gaudry is a chiropractor at Chandler Chiropractic of Scottsdale. He helps patients better understand the factors that may contribute to pain, headaches, injuries, limited movement, and other musculoskeletal concerns through thorough examination and individualized recommendations.
