Headaches After a Car Accident: When to Worry and When to Get Checked in Loveland
Headaches after a car accident? A Loveland chiropractor explains which ones come from the neck, which need the ER right away, and when to get checked.
Read the articleChiropractor for Tension Headaches in Loveland, CO
When headaches become part of your week, medication stops being a plan. We look at the structure of your neck and upper spine to find what keeps setting them off.
Reviewed by Dr. Brian Flemming, DC · Last reviewed September 2026
Quick answer
Can a chiropractor help with tension headaches?
Often, yes. Tension headaches and headaches that start in the neck are commonly linked to tight muscles and stiff joints in the neck and upper back, which can irritate the nerves there, and that is exactly where chiropractic care focuses. We examine your neck and posture first to find what keeps setting yours off, so headaches can stop running your week.
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About This Service
About Our Headache & Migraine Care
A large share of recurring headaches are cervicogenic — meaning they originate in the neck. Tight suboccipital muscles, restricted upper cervical joints and forward head posture all refer pain up into the head, behind the eyes and across the temples.
We examine the cervical spine directly rather than treating the headache as an isolated event. When the neck is the driver, correcting it changes how often the headaches show up.
- Evaluation of the cervical spine as a headache source
- Gentle, specific upper cervical adjustments
- Postural correction to reduce daily strain
- Practical trigger review — desk setup, sleep position, stress load
- Care plans that measure frequency and intensity over time
What We See Most
Headache Patterns We Commonly See
Tension Headaches
Band-like pressure around the head, often worse late in the workday.
Cervicogenic Headaches
Pain that starts at the base of the skull and radiates forward.
Migraine Patterns
Recurring episodes with light sensitivity, nausea or visual changes.
Stress-Related Headaches
Headaches that track with workload, clenching and poor sleep.
Post-Injury Headaches
New or worsening headaches following a collision or fall.
Desk-Related Headaches
Daily headaches tied to screen time and sustained forward posture.
Our Approach
Finding the Pattern Behind Your Headaches
Your first visit includes a full history — when headaches started, how often they occur, what makes them better or worse — along with an examination of how your neck moves and where it is restricted.
From there we build a plan that combines specific adjustments with corrective exercise and practical changes to the daily habits that keep loading your neck. Progress is tracked by what actually matters to you: how many headaches you are having, and how bad they are.
We are on North Garfield Avenue in Loveland, about 15 minutes from Fort Collins and 10 from Berthoud. New here? See what to expect on your first visit and fill out your new patient forms online before you come in. Every care plan follows the same three phases of care. Most insurance is accepted, including Medicare; see insurance and payment, or browse every condition we care for.
Related Conditions We Care For
Research
What the Research Says
A few of the published studies behind how we approach this. Research describes groups of people, not a promise for any one person. Your exam tells us what applies to you.
This chiropractic guideline, built from 31 systematic reviews and a 57-member Delphi panel, recommends spinal manipulation for cervicogenic headache and for tension-type headache only within multimodal care.
Trager RJ, Daniels CJ, Hawk C, et al. Chiropractic Management of Adults with Cervicogenic or Tension-Type Headaches: Development of a Clinical Practice Guideline. J Integr Complement Med, 2026 · guideline.
This guideline suggests exercise for tension-type and cervicogenic headaches and manual therapy for cervicogenic headache over 3 months, but advises against neck manipulation alone for tension-type headache.
Côté P, Yu H, Shearer HM, et al. Non-pharmacological management of persistent headaches associated with neck pain: A clinical practice guideline from the Ontario protocol for traffic injury management (OPTIMa) collaboration. Eur J Pain, 2019 · guideline.
In 256 adults with chronic cervicogenic headache, 18 sessions of spinal manipulation cut headache days roughly in half, about 3 more days per month than a light-massage control.
Haas M, Bronfort G, Evans R, et al. Dose-response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for care of cervicogenic headache: a dual-center randomized controlled trial. Spine J, 2018 · RCT.
From the Blog
Related Reading on Headache
Common Questions
Questions Patients Ask Us
Can a chiropractor help with migraines?
Many patients with recurring headaches, including migraine patterns, have contributing cervical spine dysfunction. We evaluate the neck to determine whether structural issues are part of your headache picture.
What is a cervicogenic headache?
A cervicogenic headache originates from structures in the neck and refers pain into the head, commonly starting at the base of the skull and spreading forward toward the temples or behind the eyes.
How soon might I notice fewer headaches?
This varies by patient and by how long the pattern has been established. We track headache frequency and intensity from your first visit so changes are measured rather than guessed at.
Do I need a referral to be seen?
No referral is needed to schedule an evaluation at Aligned and Well Chiropractic. You can call us directly at (970) 800-3486.
Have a different question? Read the full list of patient questions or call us at (970) 800-3486.
New Patients
Book Your Headache Evaluation
Tell us how to reach you and we’ll call to get you scheduled. Prefer to talk now? Call us at (970) 800-3486.
New Patient Special — $59
$315 value
- Consultation with the Doctor
- Orthopedic and Neurological Exam
- Specialized Report of Findings
Terms of This Offer
This discounted service cannot be submitted for third-party reimbursement and is not reimbursable for cash. Not valid with Medicare, workers’ compensation, or personal injury / auto accident claims. Must mention this special when contacting us to receive the rate.
Get Started
Ready to Feel Like Yourself Again?
You have put this off long enough. One thorough exam tells you what is actually going on and what it will take to fix it. Call us or send a request — we will get you in.