Tension headaches

The neck and shoulder connection

Tension-type headaches are often linked to tight muscles in the neck, upper shoulders, jaw and scalp. Trigger points in those muscles can refer pain into the head, which is why a headache can feel like it's behind the eyes when it starts in the neck.

How Rafael treats it

He works the muscles at the base of the skull, the upper traps, the side of the neck and, where needed, the jaw and temples. The aim is to ease the tension feeding the headaches and give you a few stretches to keep it down between sessions.

How long to book

60 minutes covers the neck, shoulders and head. Book 90 minutes if your upper back is also tight.

When to see a doctor first

See a doctor about headaches that are new, sudden and severe, getting steadily worse, or that come with vision changes, weakness, confusion or fever, or follow a head injury.