Skip to content

Guide · Neck & head

Neck pain and headaches together: causes, exercises and warning signs.

First the neck stiffens, then the pain spreads over the back of the head to the front. This is no coincidence: neck, head and jaw share a relay in the brainstem.

Dr. med. dent. Bodo S. von Gadomski Dr. med. dent. Bodo S. von GadomskiDentist · Founder of the CMD-Klinik
10 min read Tension headache · Exercises · Warning signs
Contents · 8 questions
  1. {{ t.nr }}{{ t.label }}
    2.

Neck pain and headaches occur together so often that many people consider them a single complaint. Understanding how they are connected lets you tackle them more specifically. And sometimes part of the strain sits one level higher: in the jaw system.

Question 01 of 8

Why do neck pain and headaches occur together?

In shortBecause the nerves of the upper neck and the trigeminal nerve converge at the same point in the brainstem. Pain from the neck can therefore be felt in the head, and vice versa.

This relay is called the trigeminal nucleus caudalis. There, signals from face, jaw and head converge with those from the upper three cervical segments. This is not a theory but an anatomical finding. It explains why a tense neck can cause headache at the forehead or temple.

Question 02 of 8

Tension-type headache or headache from the neck?

In shortTension-type headache is usually on both sides and pressing. Cervicogenic headache originates in the neck, is often one-sided and can be triggered by head movements or pressure on the neck.

Tension-type headache

  • On both sides, like a band around the head
  • Pressing, not throbbing
  • Mild to moderate
  • Everyday life usually possible
  • Common with stress and screen work

Cervicogenic headache

  • Usually one-sided, always the same side
  • Starts in the neck, spreads forward
  • Can be triggered by head movement or posture
  • Restricted mobility of the cervical spine
  • Pressure on points in the upper neck makes it worse

Your doctor makes this distinction. It matters because treatment takes a different approach.

Question 03 of 8

What role does the jaw play?

In shortThe jaw system and cervical spine are controlled by shared reflexes. People who clench or grind often tense the neck too, and a stiff cervical spine changes the bite.

Mouth opening is always coupled with a small head movement, and head posture measurably changes how the teeth meet. For head, face and upper neck, this connection is well established. Examining the cervical spine alongside is standard practice in CMD.

For the spine as a whole, the pelvis and the feet, a causal link with the bite is not proven. More on this on the symptom page Neck and back.

Question 04 of 8

Is my jaw involved? A short self-check

In shortSeveral “yes” answers suggest that neck and jaw system are involved together.

  • Are your neck and shoulders particularly stiff in the morning?
  • Does the headache spread from the back of the head over the temple to the front?
  • Does your jaw click, or do you clench or grind?
  • Are your temples and cheeks tender to pressure?
  • Does the neck tension quickly return after massage or physiotherapy?

This is a guide, not a diagnosis. More structured is the CMD self-test with 20 questions.

Question 05 of 8

What helps immediately?

In shortWarmth on the neck, a movement break, consciously relaxing shoulders and jaw, and calm breathing.

  • Heat pad or warm shower on neck and shoulders, 10 to 15 minutes
  • Stand up, walk, roll your shoulders
  • Keep your teeth apart, tongue resting loosely on the roof of your mouth
  • Breathe slowly into your belly five times, exhaling longer than inhaling
Question 06 of 8

Which exercises help with neck pain and headaches?

In shortThree simple exercises, several times a day: chin tuck, side neck stretch and bringing the jaw into its resting position.

Chin tuck

10 × · 2–3 times a day

Strengthens the deep neck muscles and relieves the upper neck.

  1. Sit upright, look straight ahead.
  2. Push your chin straight back horizontally, as if making a double chin. Do not tilt your head.
  3. Hold for three seconds, then relax.

Side neck stretch

2 × per side · 20 seconds

Releases tension between shoulder and back of the head.

  1. Hold the seat with your right hand, keeping the shoulder down.
  2. Slowly tilt your head to the left, ear towards the shoulder.
  3. Keep breathing calmly, then switch sides.

Jaw resting position

several times a day · 1 minute

Takes tension out of the jaw muscles, which pass it on to the neck.

  1. Lips loosely closed, teeth not touching.
  2. The tip of the tongue rests on the roof of the mouth behind the upper front teeth.
  3. Let your shoulders drop and breathe through your nose.

Do all exercises slowly and without pain. Stop if you feel dizzy, have tingling in your arms or increasing pain. More exercises in the article CMD exercises at home.

Question 07 of 8

What helps in the longer term?

In shortAn ergonomic workplace, regular exercise, physiotherapy if needed and, if the jaw system is involved, its assessment.

Physiotherapy, manual therapy and osteopathy are the guideline-based first line for neck pain and headaches. If you are being treated there: please continue. If the tension keeps coming back anyway, it is worth looking at the part of this chain that usually nobody measures.

In the CMD Systems Check we measure how hard your chewing muscles work, with what force your teeth meet and how head posture and bite interact. If nothing abnormal shows up, we tell you just as clearly.

Question 08 of 8

When do neck pain and headaches need a doctor?

In shortImmediately with numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs, after an accident, with fever and a stiff neck and with sudden, extremely severe headache.

Emergency: sudden thunderclap headache · fever with a stiff neck · paralysis, visual or speech disturbances · symptoms after a fall or rear-end collision · new, severe neck pain with dizziness or double vision. If in doubt, call 144.

Symptoms that increase over weeks, do not ease at night or come with weight loss should also be checked by a doctor.

More questions, already answered

Sources

  • Anatomy of trigeminocervical convergence (trigeminal nucleus caudalis, segments C1–C3)
  • International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3): tension-type headache, cervicogenic headache
  • Reviews on bite position and head posture, as cited on our page for orthopaedics

This article is for general information and does not replace a medical assessment. Only do exercises without pain.

Is your jaw system involved?

The self-test gives you an initial assessment. Or call us: +41 44 888 99 44

Start the self-test