ABSTRACT
In the presence of chronic headache, a cervical origin is generally considered only if the pain has a posterior topography and if the superior cervical spine demonstrates some signs of radiologic abnormalities (especially facet joint spondylosis). For most authors, the cervical spine does not play a major role in common headaches (1% for Nick). Muscular, cervical, static, or postural origins are sometimes alluded to, but in general, common headaches are attributed to a psychologic origin (80% for Wolf and Wolff) that manifests with protective guarding of the neck and shoulder girdle muscles. This type is commonly referred to as a “tension headache.”
