Chiropractic Care for Headaches and Migraines in Garden City, KS

Not All Headaches Are the Same

Headaches are among the most common health complaints worldwide, but they're not all caused by the same things. Understanding what type of headache you have is the first step toward finding an effective treatment — and chiropractic care is particularly well-suited for specific types.

The three types we see most often at ProHealth Chiropractic:

• Cervicogenic headaches— headaches that originate from dysfunction in the cervical spine (neck). The pain typically starts at the base of the skull and travels over the head, often to one side. They're caused by restricted joints, irritated nerves, or tight muscles in the upper cervical region.
• Tension headaches— the most common type, characterized by a dull, band-like pressure around the head. Often driven by muscle tension in the neck and shoulders that refers pain upward into the head.
• Migraines— a neurological event that causes moderate to severe throbbing pain, often on one side of the head, and may be accompanied by nausea, light sensitivity, and aura. Emerging research indicates that upper cervical dysfunction can be a significant trigger for migraine episodes in susceptible individuals.

The Neck-Headache Connection

Your upper cervical spine — specifically the top two vertebrae, C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis) — has a unique anatomical relationship with the brainstem and the trigeminocervical nucleus, the part of the nervous system that processes pain signals from your head and face. When these vertebrae are misaligned, even slightly, they can sensitize pain pathways and lower the threshold for headache.

Research has found that a significant percentage of chronic headache and migraine sufferers have measurable restrictions or misalignments in their upper cervical spine. This is why many patients who have tried multiple medications and treatments finally find relief through chiropractic care — because the structural problem driving the headaches was never addressed.

Signs that your headaches may have a cervical origin include:

• Headaches that start at the back of the head or neck
• Pain that's consistently on one side
• Neck stiffness or soreness that accompanies or precedes the headache
• Headaches that worsen with certain neck positions or movements
• History of whiplash, neck injury, or auto accident

How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Reduces Headache Frequency

When C1 and C2 are not moving properly or are out of alignment, the result is a cascade of problems: muscle tension in the suboccipital region (at the base of the skull), irritation of the greater occipital nerve, and sensitization of the trigeminocervical system. Correcting upper cervical alignment interrupts this cascade at the source.

At ProHealth Chiropractic, Dr. Yager uses the ProAdjuster to assess and treat upper cervical dysfunction with exceptional gentleness and precision. The computer-guided instrument measures the response of each cervical segment and delivers a targeted, controlled correction without any rotation of the neck. For headache patients — who are often sensitive to touch around the neck and head — this approach is particularly well-tolerated.

Many headache patients report noticing a difference within the first few visits. Typical improvements include:

• Fewer headache days per month
• Reduced severity when headaches do occur
• Decreased reliance on pain medication
• Improved neck mobility and reduced muscle tension

What to Expect at Your First Headache Appointment

Dr. Yager will take a thorough history of your headaches — pattern, frequency, triggers, associated symptoms, and what makes them better or worse. He'll then perform a postural and range-of-motion assessment followed by a ProAdjuster scan of the cervical spine. This combination of history and objective spinal data allows him to identify whether cervical dysfunction is contributing to your headaches and develop a treatment plan accordingly.

Chiropractic care is not a replacement for your neurologist or headache specialist — it's a complementary approach that addresses the musculoskeletal component of headache disorders. Dr. Yager works alongside your existing healthcare team to give you the most complete picture of what's driving your symptoms.

Ready to Reduce Your Headaches?

You don't have to accept frequent headaches as your normal. Call ProHealth Chiropractic at (620) 271-0243 or book online to schedule your evaluation. We serve Garden City, Dodge City, Liberal, and the surrounding southwest Kansas area.