Ever had a headache ruin your workday, gym session, or weekend plans? You’re not alone.
While headaches are often brushed off as “just stress” or “normal,” the truth is they’re far more common, and more disruptive than most people realise.
Behind the scenes, headaches in Australia are quietly becoming one of the most underestimated health burdens.
But how many of us are really affected? And what can be done to manage them beyond simply popping a painkiller?
Why I’m Sharing This With You
Hi, I’m Kevin Go, a physiotherapist with a passion for treating musculoskeletal conditions – especially those that are often overlooked, like cervicogenic headaches and tension-type headaches.
Working with patients across Brisbane, I’ve seen just how debilitating chronic headaches can be – and how effective physiotherapy can be in reducing their frequency and severity.
Let’s Look at the Numbers
So, how common are headaches in Australia?
📊 Key Stats:
- 1 in 5 Australians experiences headaches weekly or more frequently
- Migraines affect around 4.9 million Australians, that’s roughly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 15 men
- Headaches are one of the top five causes of disability in people aged 15–49
- Over 1.7 million GP visits per year are related to headaches
- Many sufferers go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, especially those with cervicogenic or tension-type headaches
This shows headaches in Australia aren’t just “a bad day”, they’re a significant public health issue affecting productivity, relationships, and mental health.
What’s the Real Problem?
The biggest issue isn’t just how common headaches in Australia are, it’s how under-managed they are. Many people:
- Assume headaches are just part of life
- Rely too heavily on medication for short-term relief
- Never investigate the underlying physical contributors, such as neck stiffness, jaw dysfunction, or poor posture
- Don’t realise that non-pharmacological options, like physiotherapy, are backed by evidence and can help significantly
What Can We Do About It?
Thankfully, there are proactive, natural ways to reduce the frequency and severity of headaches.
Physiotherapy is particularly effective for certain types of headaches, especially those that originate from the neck (cervicogenic) or are related to muscle tension and posture.
Here’s what I typically recommend:
Top 3 Physio-Recommended Actions for Headache Relief
- Get Your Neck Assessed
- Headaches often stem from cervical joint or muscular dysfunction
- A physio can assess if your headache has a mechanical component (e.g. stiffness at C1–C3)
- Correct Your Posture Habits
- Poor posture (especially from screen time) places strain on the upper neck and traps
- Minor adjustments and stretches can make a major difference
- Start a Targeted Exercise Program
- This might include deep neck flexor training, scapular control, or thoracic mobility
- Individualised rehab is key, generic YouTube stretches won’t cut it for most cases
Ready to Take Control of Your Headaches?
If you’re one of the millions battling weekly headaches in Australia, you don’t have to keep powering through them.
We offer comprehensive headache assessments to identify the source and build a tailored plan that works for you, without relying solely on medication.
Book your appointment today or give us a call to find out how we can help you get back to clear-headed, pain-free days.
Written by:
References
Foster, E. et al. (2024) ‘Australian headache epidemiology data (ahead): A pilot study to assess sampling and engagement methodology for a nationwide population-based survey’, The Journal of Headache and Pain, 25(1). doi:10.1186/s10194-024-01773-8.
Tu, S. et al. (2020) ‘The health and productivity burden of migraines in Australia’, Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 60(10), pp. 2291–2303. doi:10.1111/head.13969.
Watson, D.H. and Drummond, P.D. (2012) ‘Head pain referral during examination of the neck in migraine and tension‐type headache’, Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 52(8), pp. 1226–1235. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2012.02169.x.
Wilkes, M.J. et al. (2021) ‘The prevalence and burden of recurrent headache in Australian adolescents: Findings from the Longitudinal Study of Australian children’, The Journal of Headache and Pain, 22(1). doi:10.1186/s10194-021-01262-2.
