7 Muscles That Can Contribute to Headaches (And Why Treating Your Neck Alone May Not Be Enough)

Many headaches actually begin in the muscles of the jaw, neck, and shoulders. Trigger points in these muscles can refer pain into the head, temples, forehead, and even behind the eyes.

Masseter

Can refer pain into:

• Jaw

• Teeth

• Cheek

• Ear

Temporalis

Pain:

• Temple

• Side of head

• Teeth

Sternocleidomastoid (SCM)

Pain:

• Forehead

• Behind eye

• Ear

• Dizziness

Upper Trapezius

Pain:

• Side of head

• Neck

• Base of skull

Suboccipitals

Pain:

• Back of head

• Eyes

• Forehead

Pterygoids

Pain:

• Deep jaw

• Ear

• Face

Levator Scapulae

Pain:

• Neck

• Shoulder

• Head

How Clinical Therapeutic Massage Can Help

Discuss:

• Assessment

• Trigger point therapy

• Stretching

• Jaw evaluation

• Posture

• Home exercises

Conclusion

If your headaches seem to start with muscle tension or worsen after long hours at a computer, clenching your jaw, or periods of stress, addressing the involved muscles may help reduce symptoms. A thorough assessment can help determine whether muscular tension is contributing to your headaches.