Neck & Head
Some headaches start in the neck. If yours begin at the base of your skull, come with a stiff neck, or get worse after long hours at a desk, physical therapy may help both.
Yes, physical therapy can help neck pain and headaches that come from the neck. The physical therapy clinical practice guideline for neck pain recommends hands-on treatment and specific neck and upper back exercises for neck pain and for headaches that start in the neck (cervicogenic headaches). At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, your therapist works out how much of your headache is coming from your neck, and treats that part.
The upper joints and muscles of the neck share nerve pathways with the head, so a problem there can be felt as a headache. Long hours in one position, poor sleep positions, stress, an old injury such as whiplash, and stiffness or weakness in the neck and upper back can all contribute.
Not every headache comes from the neck. Migraines and other headaches need medical care, though many people with migraines also have neck tension that physical therapy can ease. Your evaluation looks at which is which.
Your first visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes. We go through your headache pattern, then test how your neck and upper back move, which positions reproduce your symptoms, and screen for anything that needs a doctor.
Gentle joint and soft-tissue treatment for the neck and upper back to ease pain and restore motion.
Specific exercises for the deep neck and shoulder blade muscles, workstation, phone and sleep changes, and a short home program to keep headaches from coming back.
Call 911 for a sudden, severe “worst ever” headache, or a headache with weakness, numbness, confusion, trouble speaking, vision loss or fainting.
See a doctor promptly if you have:
Care at ARI is always one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist at our Bakersfield clinic: 8200 Stockdale Hwy, Suite B2, in the Town & Country Village center next to Trader Joe's. Our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, is a board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.
Ready to feel better?
Talk to a licensed physical therapist at ARI, one-on-one. Request an evaluation and we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms, a licensed clinician should evaluate you.
Clinically reviewed by Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist · Reviewed September 2026