Chiropractic Care for Headaches & Migraines in Arlington, WA
Most patients who walk into our Arlington, WA office for headaches have already tried medications, dim rooms, and elimination diets. Many have headaches that start in the neck — cervicogenic headaches — and respond remarkably well to conservative chiropractic care once the upper cervical spine and surrounding muscles are addressed.
Common Symptoms
- Pain that starts at the base of the skull and wraps around the head
- A band-like pressure across the forehead or temples
- One-sided throbbing with light or sound sensitivity
- Tension across the upper traps and base of the neck
- Headaches that worsen with screen time or driving
Common Causes
- Upper cervical joint dysfunction
- Forward head posture and tech neck
- Old whiplash injuries that never fully resolved
- Trigger points in the suboccipital and trapezius muscles
- Dehydration, poor sleep, and stress-related muscle guarding
How We Evaluate the Issue
We look at your headache history, triggers, and pattern, then exam the cervical spine, jaw, and posture. Identifying whether your headaches are tension-type, cervicogenic, migrainous, or mixed shapes the plan.
How Chiropractic Care May Help
Gentle upper cervical adjustments, combined with mobility work, often produce noticeable reductions in headache frequency and intensity — particularly for cervicogenic and tension-type headaches.
How Massage Therapy May Help
Suboccipital release and upper trap massage can interrupt the muscular trigger points that feed many chronic headache patterns.
How Red Light Laser Therapy May Help
Red light laser therapy may help calm inflamed soft tissue in the upper neck and support recovery between visits.
When Referral or Imaging May Be Needed
Sudden, severe, or unusual headaches — especially with vision changes, fever, or neurological symptoms — need urgent medical evaluation, not chiropractic care.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Plan for 45–60 minutes. We'll go deep on your headache history, exam your neck and posture, and explain what we believe is driving the pattern.
Related Services & Conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
Care for headaches & migraines starts with one call.
Same-day appointments are often available. Book online in just a few clicks or give us a call.