Suboccipitals: Cause of Headaches

Suboccipital Headaches: A Common Cause of Headaches

 

 

 

 

The suboccipital muscles are located at the base of your skull. Their main action is extension of your head on your neck. These muscles allow you to look up.

 

Many people present with a forward head posture.  In this posture, one may present with rounded shoulders and a slumped upper back.  The ears are not in line with the shoulders, because the head is falling forward.  In order to see straight ahead, you must extend your head on your neck.  This action demands the suboccipitals to contract for an extended time, which leads to muscle shortening and trigger points.  This muscle tightness and trigger points may apply pressure to the occipital nerves.  You can see the location of the suboccipital nerves in the pictures above.  The orientation of the nerves are consistent with the location of a large percentage of headaches, especially headaches that radiate.  You may even feel headache-like pain in your eyes, forehead or temple regions. 

 

So the next time you feel this type of headache, check out your posture in a mirror.  It may be the contributing factor.