Post by @drjoedamiani

🔥 Headaches that start in your neck and travel up the back or side of your head? Try this gentle nerve glide! One structure that can contribute to this pain pattern is the greater occipital nerve, which travels from the upper cervical region through tissues at the back of the neck and up toward the scalp. 💡 Here’s what may be happening: ⚡ The occipital nerve travels through several layers of muscle and connective tissue. If the nerve or surrounding tissues become irritated or sensitive, pain can travel upward along its pathway. ⚡ Upper cervical and head-pain signals also interact within the nervous system, which helps explain why pain originating around the upper neck can sometimes be perceived in other areas of the head. Instead of aggressively stretching the nerve, try GLIDING it. 🛠️ Here’s the movement: ✅ STEP 1: TUCK + NOD Gently bring your head backward, then perform a small downward nod. ✅ STEP 2: TILT + ROTATE From that position, gently tilt and rotate toward the side of your headache, then return to neutral. ✅ STEP 3: REVERSE Allow your head to move slightly forward, then gently tilt and rotate away from the painful side before returning to neutral. 🔥 Why alternate directions? A nerve glide is designed to create movement along the nerve pathway by changing tension at different points rather than simply holding the nerve in a prolonged stretch. Think: Tension one end → release the other → reverse → repeat. Keep the movement slow, gentle, and controlled. Nerve glides shouldn’t create strong pain, numbness, tingling, or a significant increase in your headache. #OccipitalNerve #HeadacheRelief #NeckPain #NerveGlide #PhysicalTherapy