Headache & Migraine Treatment

Headache & Migraine Treatment in Holland, MI — McAlpine Chiropractic

Your Headaches Are Not Random. There Is a Reason They Keep Coming Back.

You have tried the over-the-counter painkillers. You have tried the dark room. You have tried the ice packs and the essential oils and the new pillow. And yet the headaches keep returning — sometimes daily, sometimes weekly, sometimes so severe that you cannot function.

If you are living on ibuprofen and hoping each headache is the last one, it is time to find out what is actually causing them. For many headache and migraine sufferers, the answer is in the neck — not the head. And that is exactly where effective headache treatment begins.

At McAlpine Chiropractic in Holland, MI, we diagnose and treat the structural causes of chronic headaches and migraines using chiropractic adjustments, non-surgical spinal decompression, and Class IV laser therapy. Our approach addresses the source of the problem so you get lasting relief — not just another pill that wears off in four hours.

Schedule Your Appointment | Call 616-392-7031

Serving Holland, Zeeland, and the greater West Michigan area | Over 30 years of experience | 4.8+ stars on Google

Understanding the Three Types of Headaches We Treat

Not all headaches are the same, and effective headache treatment depends on correctly identifying which type you are experiencing. At McAlpine Chiropractic in Holland, MI, we see three primary types in our patients.

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, affecting up to 80% of the adult population at some point. They produce a dull, aching pressure that wraps around the head — often described as feeling like a tight band across the forehead or around the temples.

Referral pattern: Tension headaches typically begin at the base of the skull or in the upper neck and spread forward across both sides of the head. The pain is steady, not throbbing. Patients often describe a “vice-like” pressure that is worse by the end of the day, especially after prolonged desk work, driving, or screen time.

Common triggers include:

• Prolonged sitting with forward head posture
• Stress and muscle tension in the neck and shoulders
• Jaw clenching and teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Eye strain from screens
• Dehydration

Tension headaches are highly responsive to chiropractic care because their primary driver is muscular tension and spinal misalignment in the upper cervical spine.

Cervicogenic Headaches

Cervicogenic headaches originate from dysfunction in the cervical spine — specifically the upper three vertebrae (C1, C2, and C3) and the joints, muscles, and nerves associated with them. This is the headache type most directly connected to neck problems, and it is the type most commonly misdiagnosed.

Referral pattern: Cervicogenic headaches typically start on one side. The pain begins at the base of the skull, behind the ear, or in the upper neck and radiates forward — often settling behind the eye, across the forehead, or into the temple on the same side. Moving the neck or holding a sustained posture (like looking at a screen) often triggers or worsens the pain.

Key distinguishing features:

• Pain is almost always one-sided
• Neck stiffness or restricted range of motion accompanies the headache
• The headache can be triggered by pressing on specific points in the upper neck
• Standard headache medications often provide incomplete or no relief
• The headache improves with cervical spine treatment

A 2019 systematic review published in Musculoskeletal Science and Practice found that manual therapy — including spinal manipulation — was effective in reducing the frequency, duration, and intensity of cervicogenic headaches. This is consistent with what we observe clinically: when the cervical spine dysfunction is corrected, the headaches resolve.

Migraines

Migraines are a neurological condition involving complex changes in brain chemistry, blood flow, and nerve signaling. They produce moderate to severe throbbing pain — usually on one side of the head — and are frequently accompanied by nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity (photophobia), and sound sensitivity (phonophobia). Some patients experience aura: visual disturbances like flashing lights, zigzag lines, or temporary blind spots that precede the headache.

Referral pattern: Migraine pain is typically unilateral and throbbing, centered behind one eye or in one temple. It may shift sides between episodes. During an attack, patients often experience pain radiating from the temple down through the jaw, or from behind the eye into the forehead. Neck stiffness and pain at the base of the skull frequently accompany or precede a migraine attack.

The cervical spine connection: While migraines are neurological in origin, the cervical spine plays a significant role. Research published in Cephalalgia (the journal of the International Headache Society) has demonstrated that cervical spine dysfunction can both trigger migraines and increase their frequency. The trigeminal nerve — the primary nerve involved in migraine pain — shares neural pathways with the upper cervical spine through a structure called the trigeminocervical nucleus. This means that irritation in the upper neck can directly activate migraine pathways.

This is why many migraine patients experience significant improvement with chiropractic care, even though migraines are not a purely musculoskeletal condition.

How We Treat Headaches and Migraines at McAlpine Chiropractic

Effective headache treatment requires understanding the structural factors contributing to your headaches. Our Holland, MI clinic addresses these factors directly using a combination of proven, non-invasive treatments.

Chiropractic Adjustments

Chiropractic adjustments to the upper cervical spine — particularly C1 (atlas), C2 (axis), and C3 — are the foundation of headache treatment at McAlpine Chiropractic. These vertebrae are directly connected to the muscles and nerves that drive tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches. Restoring proper alignment in this region relieves nerve irritation, reduces muscle tension, and improves blood flow to the head.

A 2011 systematic review in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) concluded that spinal manipulation is effective for the management of cervicogenic headaches and provides improvement in migraine frequency and intensity.

For many headache patients, adjustments alone produce significant and lasting improvement.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression — Cervical

For patients whose headaches are linked to cervical disc herniations, bulging discs, or cervical radiculopathy, our FDA-cleared SpineMed decompression table provides targeted cervical treatment. The table’s gel-padded brackets cradle the head without any jaw pressure, and the system precisely targets the affected disc level at angles between 0 and 30 degrees. This creates negative intradiscal pressure, draws herniated material away from compressed nerves, and restores nutrient flow into the damaged disc. Learn more about our non-surgical spinal decompression program.

Class IV Laser Therapy

Class IV laser therapy delivers concentrated light energy into the deep muscles and soft tissues of the cervical spine. This reduces inflammation, promotes cellular repair, and provides measurable pain relief — often within the first session. For headache patients, laser therapy is particularly effective at releasing the chronic tension in the suboccipital muscles and upper trapezius that feeds into tension headache and cervicogenic headache patterns.

Postural Correction and Ergonomic Guidance

Forward head posture is one of the most common contributors to chronic headaches. For every inch your head moves forward of your shoulders, your cervical spine bears an additional 10 pounds of effective weight. We evaluate your posture, workstation setup, and daily habits — then provide specific corrective exercises and ergonomic adjustments to reduce the structural load that triggers your headaches.

Corrective Exercises

All of our chiropractors — Dr. Phillip Maletta, Dr. Ben De Young, and Dr. Ann McAlpine — have passed the national board exam for physical therapy. We provide targeted exercises to strengthen the deep cervical flexors, stabilize the upper cervical spine, and improve postural endurance. These exercises complement your in-office treatment and help prevent headache recurrence between visits.

What to Expect at Your First Visit

Your first appointment at McAlpine Chiropractic in Holland, MI is focused entirely on finding the cause of your headaches.

We begin with a detailed history — the type, location, frequency, and triggers of your headaches, along with your medical history and what treatments you have tried. We then perform a comprehensive examination of your cervical spine, including range of motion testing, palpation of the upper cervical joints and suboccipital muscles, neurological testing, and orthopedic assessment.

Our chiropractors can order X-rays and MRI when clinically indicated — especially if we suspect disc involvement or if your symptoms include arm pain, numbness, or weakness in addition to headaches.

Once we identify the source, we explain our findings clearly and build a treatment plan specific to your headache type and cervical spine condition.

Book Your First Visit | Call 616-392-7031

Why Choose McAlpine Chiropractic for Headache Treatment

• Three experienced chiropractors — Dr. Phillip Maletta, Dr. Ben De Young, and Dr. Ann McAlpine have decades of combined experience treating headaches, migraines, and cervical spine conditions in Holland, MI.
• Advanced cervical decompression — Our SpineMed table is FDA-cleared for cervical treatment and uses gel-padded brackets with zero jaw pressure — a level of technology not available at most chiropractic offices.
• In-house diagnostic imaging — We can order X-rays and MRI directly, eliminating referral delays.
• Proven track record — Over 30 years of chiropractic care in Holland and West Michigan with a 4.8+ star rating on Google.
• Drug-free, non-surgical approach — We treat the cause of your headaches without medication, injections, or surgery.

Learn more about our team.

Patient Results

“Dr. Ann has a gift in figuring out what hurts and why and how. Second to none, hands down the best.” — Verified Google Review

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(All testimonials from verified patient reviews. Individual results may vary.)

Frequently Asked Questions About Headache and Migraine Treatment

Can a chiropractor really help with headaches?

Yes. Headaches that originate from cervical spine dysfunction — including tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches — respond very well to chiropractic care. A systematic review in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics confirmed that spinal manipulation is effective for cervicogenic headaches and can reduce migraine frequency. At McAlpine Chiropractic, headaches are one of the most common conditions we treat.

What is a cervicogenic headache?

A cervicogenic headache is a headache caused by dysfunction in the cervical spine — typically the upper three vertebrae (C1-C3). The pain starts in the neck and refers forward into the head, usually on one side. It is often mistaken for a migraine or tension headache, but the key difference is that the source is a structural problem in the neck, not the head itself.

Can neck problems cause migraines?

Yes. Research shows that cervical spine dysfunction can trigger migraines and increase their frequency. The upper cervical spine shares neural pathways with the trigeminal nerve — the primary nerve involved in migraine pain — through the trigeminocervical nucleus. Correcting cervical misalignments and reducing nerve irritation in this area can significantly reduce migraine episodes for many patients.

How many chiropractic treatments does it take to fix headaches?

It depends on the type and severity. Many patients with tension headaches or cervicogenic headaches notice improvement within 4 to 6 visits. Chronic headache patients and migraine patients may need 8 to 12 weeks of care for lasting results. Your treatment plan is based on your specific examination findings, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.

Are headaches a sign of something serious?

Most headaches are not dangerous, but certain symptoms require immediate medical attention: sudden severe headache (the “worst headache of your life”), headache with fever and stiff neck, headache after head trauma, headache with confusion or vision changes, or a new headache pattern after age 50. If you experience any of these, seek emergency medical care. For recurring or chronic headaches without these red flags, a chiropractic evaluation is an appropriate and effective starting point.

What is the difference between a tension headache and a migraine?

Tension headaches produce a dull, bilateral pressure — often described as a band around the head. They are typically mild to moderate and do not cause nausea or light sensitivity. Migraines are usually unilateral, throbbing, moderate to severe, and frequently accompanied by nausea, light sensitivity, and sometimes visual aura. Both types can be influenced by cervical spine dysfunction, which is why both can improve with chiropractic care.

Does insurance cover chiropractic headache treatment?

Most insurance plans in Michigan include chiropractic coverage. Coverage for spinal decompression varies by plan. Contact our office at 616-392-7031 and we will help you verify your benefits before your first visit. If your headaches are related to a car accident, your auto insurance PIP benefits typically cover treatment.

Stop Managing Your Headaches. Start Treating the Cause.

You have spent enough time reaching for the pill bottle, retreating to a dark room, and hoping the next headache will not be as bad as the last one. If your headaches keep returning, something structural is driving them — and that structural problem has a solution.

At McAlpine Chiropractic in Holland, MI, we find the cervical spine dysfunction behind your headaches and correct it. Whether you are dealing with daily tension headaches, weekly cervicogenic headaches, or debilitating migraines, we have the experience and the technology to help.

Schedule Your Appointment Now

Call us: 616-392-7031

Visit us: McAlpine Chiropractic, Holland, MI

Hours: Monday-Friday