How do the suboccipital muscles contribute to neck pain and headaches?

The suboccipital muscles, located at the base of the skull, play a crucial role in head and neck movement. Tightness in these muscles can lead to cervicogenic headaches, dizziness, vertigo, and even changes in sensorimotor function. These muscles are directly connected to the dura mater of the spinal cord through the cervical myodural bridge, a structure that helps prevent excessive dural folding and maintains cerebrospinal fluid flow. Whiplash injuries, poor posture, or prolonged head positioning can overstimulate these muscles, causing increased dural tension and pain.

Releasing tension in the suboccipitals through soft tissue techniques like craniosacral therapy can improve cerebrospinal fluid drainage, enhance blood circulation to the brain, and reduce headache symptoms. These techniques focus on gentle pressure and following tissue responses rather than forceful manipulations, ensuring a calming effect on the nervous system.

This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, "Advanced Soft Tissue Approaches for the Neck," presented by Kate Peck, LMT, BCTMB.