Introduction

Physiotherapists frequently treat patients with chronic headaches, migraines, or persistent neck pain that have not responded to conventional treatment. Research shows that 61% of people with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) experience headaches, and 85% experience cervical spine dysfunction. Treating the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can reduce pain and disability in patients with tension-type headaches, migraines, and cervical spine dysfunction. This course examines the connections between the TMJ, primary headaches, and the cervical spine, focusing on migraine pathophysiology and upper cervical spine dysfunction.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• identify key headache red flags and the characteristic features of three primary headache types: migraine, tension-type, and cluster headaches
• describe the bidirectional relationship between temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and primary headaches, including the neurophysiological mechanism linking TMD to migraine
• discuss the anatomical, biomechanical, and neurophysiological connections between the temporomandibular joint and the cervical spine

Target audience

This course is aimed at Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy clinicians, students and assistants. Other interested professionals such as athletic trainers, occupational therapists, nurses or medical doctors interested in this subject are also invited to participate.

Practicalities

• Availability - this course is online and can be completed on your own schedule.
• Hours of Learning - No deadlines are applied to this course and it can be started and completed in your own time according to your personal schedule. We expect the required elements to take around 1-1.5 hours depending on your schedule and learning style. Additionally there are many optional resources provided and if you choose to review these the course could take longer to complete.
• Types of Activities - This course includes instructional and/or practical videos, reading activities, AI supported learning activities, reflection, evaluation forms, a quiz and additional resources.
• Certificates - At the end of the course, when you have completed all of the required elements, you will be able to download a certificate of completion and 1.0 Plus points will be added to your personalised learning dashboard.

Instructor financial and non-financial disclosures

No relevant relationships disclosed by instructor.

Accessibility and Non-Discrimination Policy

Physiopedia Plus is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment for all participants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, national origin, religion, sex, disability, military status, sexual orientation or age in any aspect of our continuing education services. We are dedicated to ensuring that all learners can fully participate in our programmes. Participants who require accommodations or have special needs are encouraged to contact us with details so that we can make all reasonable efforts to meet these requirements.