Watson Headache Institute

What a beautiful afternoon to come together for our Level 2 Consolidation Course 1st - 3rd November 2024 group photo.

With so much happening in Adelaide, we were delighted our course registrants found accommodation for the 3 days.

A couple of registrants asked to be moved to 2025 courses, so our course became an intense Level 2 Masterclass!!

Thank you all for your collaboration. It was great getting to know you.

Level 2 Consolidation Course, 1st-3rd November 2024

Yesterday, our course morning tea was different as we watched the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant from the course venue balcony.

What a delight for us all. It was hard to tear ourselves away at the end of the break whilst the Christmas Pageant continued, progressing over 90 minutes.

We loved that course participants connected with their children by phone and shared the floats with them.

Since 1933, people have travelled from wide and far to bring their children to this cherished event. The National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant takes place at the beginning of November and is one of Australia's most celebrated events marking the start of the Festive Season.

Level 2 Consolidation Course

After the case presentations yesterday, we have time to focus on clinical reasoning and palpation skills today.

We are planning on having a morning tea break on the balcony to catch a glimpse as the Adelaide Christmas Pageant passes by.

Level 2 Consolidation Course

How wonderful to have our smart technology and animations to share with our clinical case presentations and course attendees.

A key tool in patient and practitioner education.

Looking ahead to 'What's On' In November 2024

01 - 03 November Level 2 Consolidation In-Person Course Adelaide South Australia

06 November Q & A Session Online 8a.m. - 9a.m. Wednesday

08 - 10 November Level 3 Certification In-Person Course Adelaide South Australia

20 November Q & A Session Online 7p.m. - 8p.m. Wednesday

24 November Level 1 Foundation Online Course 2nd Birthday

For more information about the Watson Headache® Institute's Education Pathway, Online and In-Person Courses please click on the link in the Bio and choose 'Education Pathway'.

Quote: Dr Dean Watson PhD Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist

“We are now doing a cervical intervention and demonstrating desensitisation in the trigeminocervical complex. It is widely accepted that sensitisation of the brainstem, the trigeminocervical complex, is the underlying disorder and is crucial in Migraine and other Primary Headache conditions.”

For more information, please click the link http://bit.ly/3YSQOCt and scroll to 'Publications'.

Special Birthday Offer on Our Level 1 Foundation Online Course!

We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone for the Watson Headache® Institute!

As we approach the 2nd Birthday of our Level 1 Foundation Online Course, "Cervicogenic Headache and the Role of C1-3 (Cervical) Afferents in Primary Headache", (24th November 2024), we want to celebrate with you!

So from now until the 24th November 2024, a Special Birthday Offer is available to you if you are a Physiotherapist, Osteopath or Chiropractor.

The course is clinically orientated and is comprised of 1-8 Comprehensive Core Modules.

Limited-Time Offer: Don’t miss out; this offer opens until midnight on Level 1 Online's Birth Date, 24th November 2024!

Special Birthday Coupon Code: Please place 'birthday' in the comments and we will direct message the course details and the Coupon Code for you to enter when registering.

Course Participant Feedback:

"I’m impressed with the didactic level of the course. The presentations and the supporting videos and images are perfect." Physiotherapist Netherlands

This is an opportunity to...

* either begin your Continuing Professional Development pathway with the Watson Headache® Institute or

* if you attended the Level 1 Foundation course 10 plus years ago, this is an opportunity to update and refine past learning.

We look forward to celebrating this milestone and introducing new course registrants to an international community of Physiotherapists, Osteopaths and Chiropractors in over 27 countries!

A warm thank you to those who attended the Watson Headache® Level 1 Foundation Course from the 25th - 27th October, 2024.

Over three days, we embarked on a significant learning journey together, with ample opportunities for socializing outside the course hours.

Adelaide, South Australia turned on a weekend of so much to do and perfect weather as well as a backdrop for Rundle Mall (Shopping), Adelaide Central Market, Oz Asia, Chihuly in the Botanic Garden, Seafood Festival (Glenelg) and City Restaurants being popular.

We loved how you energetically connected and engaged with one another throughout the sessions and breaks.

Thank you to Roger O'Toole from the Melbourne Headache Centre for joining us.

How privileged was this group to have a 1 to 6.5 ratio when being coached in the practical sessions.

We're excited to continue working with you through upcoming online follow-up post-course Q&A sessions.

For those eager to explore further, click http://bit.ly/3AwnAvV.

Please note that our February 2025 Level 1 Foundation In-Person Course is now open with 8 of 12 places remaining.

Level 1 Foundation In-Person Course 25th - 27th October 2024

The Level 1 Foundation Course, 'Cervicogenic Headache and the Role of C1-3 (Cervical) Afferents in Primary Headache', will begin tomorrow in Adelaide, South Australia.

Watson Headache® Education continuing professional development supports understanding the role of the neck in Cervicogenic and Primary Headache.

Our courses and programs are for Manual Therapists supporting and informing individuals living with Cervicogenic and Primary Headache.

With registrants travelling from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia we look forward to meeting everyone and a weekend of further building knowledge and skill.

Much appreciated feedback about a post from a Physiotherapist in South Australia, thank you ...

"A really interesting article, (‘Is There A Role for Manual Therapy in Vestibular Migraine?’). Thanks for posting it."

If you missed it please go to the link https://bit.ly/3UjCWyp and read under the 'Contemporary Research'.

Looking forward to ...

😊 opening the Level 1 Foundation Online Course on 24th October (2nd Year Birthday 🎉 , having first launched this course in November 2022),

😊 getting underway this weekend with the Level 1 Foundation In-Person Course, 25th, 26th & 27th October,

😊 followed by the Level 2 Consolidation In-Person Course, 1st, 2nd & 3rd November and

😊 the subsequent weekend it will be the Level 3 In-Person Certification Course along with the Level 4 Facilitation Course, 8th, 9th 10th & 11th November.

A busy but much enjoyed and appreciated time is coming up!

Acknowledging Professor Ottar Sjaastad, the ‘Modern Day’ Father of Cervicogenic Headache.

On a casual Sunday morning, while sorting through photos, I came across a treasured memory of a seminal week in my professional 35-year journey dedicated to headache and migraine.

In 1995, four years into my exclusive focus on headache and migraine, I travelled to Trondheim, Norway, to meet the late Professor Ottar Sjaastad, who passed away on 30th August 2022. We subsequently (1996) met in Sardinia, Italy, when Professor Sjaastad was attending the 3rd European Headache Federation.

I have attached a link to his obituary, which describes him accurately as a pioneering scientist. He was very kind to Jane and me, enthusiastically supporting my endeavours and leaving us with an enduring memory.

Professor Sjaastad’s journey is more than worth knowing. It is a must-read for health professionals endeavouring to make a difference.

If you would like to read "Lars Jacob Stovner, Torbjørn Fredriksen and Trond Sand: Obituary for Ottar Sjaastad, founding editor of Cephalalgia, Cephalalgia 2022, Vol. 42(14) 1447–1449" please click on this http://bit.ly/3UhX9od.

Antero-posterior view of a patient with side-locked unilateral headache.

Thank you to those of you (Physiotherapists, Osteopaths and Chiropractors) who shared your thoughts.

Q 1: Which side would you expect the headache to be on?

Answer - Empirically, in the vast majority (90-95%) of side-locked unilateral headache, the spinous process of C2 will be deviated [L]

Q 2: Which will be most resistant to transverse pressure on the spinous process of C2?

i) [L] > [R]
ii) [R] > [L]

Answer - Resistance will be greater with transverse pressure on the spinous process of C2 from [L] to [R]

Q 3: Which will be most resistant to pa pressure on the articular pillar of C2?

i) [L]
ii) [R]

Answer - Resistance will be greater to postero anterior pressure on the [L] articular pillar of C2

Abdominal Migraine: ‘The Child’s Migraine’

Abdominal Migraine (AM) is a condition – a variant of migraine – that might sound unfamiliar; it is relatively uncommon, but it is essential for parents and caregivers to understand, particularly if there is a history of migraine in the family.

Abdominal Migraine (AM) is often called the ‘child’s migraine’ because it occurs predominately in children. It is relatively rare in adults.

Find out what AM is, what causes it, the prognosis and treatment...

1. just click the link https://bit.ly/3A4OKNY

2. choose “Abdominal Migraine: The Child’s Migraine” (3-minute read)

✨ Reflecting on 2020 ✨

Looking back on 2020, one of the most memorable moments was having Fernado join the Level 2 Consolidation In-Person and spend time in the Watson Headache ® Clinic during patient (with their permission) consultations.

Fernando traveled from Spain to Australia to be part of this course. 🇪🇸✈️🇦🇺

It's not just about the distance traveled, but the dedication brought to the experience.

A reminder of how powerful it is when people come together from different corners of the world, united by a shared goal.

Always grateful for the connections we build and how we learn from each other. ✨

Is the C2-3 Segment Just another Spinal Segment?

C2-3 segment; it is special!

Did you know...

• It is the most obliquely oriented of the facet joints in the cervical spine (C3-4 comes a close second!); notice that the facet joints become horizontally inclined distally

• It is the only facet joint that is medially inclined

• It is the most immobile of the cervical segments (after C5-7)

• It is where the most mobile part of the cervical spine suddenly comes up against the most immobile segment – this qualifies as a ‘transitional’ segment (think C7-T1, L5-S1, T12-L1)

• Not surprisingly, of the upper three segments, it is the most common segment referring head-pain – it is the ‘engine room’ of headache/pain

Q & A Session:

Please Note worldwide time changes from Winter Time to Summer Time and vice versa.

On October 6th 2024 Adelaide moved from ACST to ACDT.

Complimentary Q & A Sessions (Adelaide, South Australia)

This week is the 3rd Wednesday of the Month.

Q & A Session for past course attendees will start at 7p.m. - 8p.m. Adelaide Time, South Australia (ASDT) 16th October 2024.

An email with a link to join us in will arrive in the inbox of past Level 1 Foundation, Level 2 Consolidation and Level 3 Certification course and Clinical Facilitator Program attendees as a reminder an hour before we start.

We hope those who have questions and conversations to share can join in.

We have already received one interesting question that will pique interest and the answer will apply directly to clinical practice.

Whilst I am not in my board shorts this is where my heart revels!

Doing some last-minute checking before heading off to present one of my favourite topics, ‘Identifying Cervical Relevancy in Primary Headache,’ to the MSK group SA Branch of the Australian Physiotherapy Association.

Thanks to my University of South Australia colleague, Harry Truong, for the invitation.

For Physiotherapists, Osteopaths and Chiropractors:

Antero-posterior view of a patient with side-locked unilateral headache.

Q 1: Which side would you expect the headache to be on?

Q 2: Which will be most resistant to transverse pressure on the spinous process of C2?

i) [L] > [R]
ii) [R] > [L]

Q 3: Which will be most resistant to pa pressure on the articular pillar of C2?

i) [L]
ii) [R]

Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Commentary for Health Professionals:

Circa 2024, I have been constantly bemused by the perspective that upper cervical afferents might contribute to a primary headache but do not play a causal role.

How can the possibility that cervical afferents are causative in Primary Headache be dismissed outright without due consideration?

Read more...

1. click the link in the bio or go to Resources in the menu at http://watsonheadache.com
2. choose the Commentary button
3. choose “Cervical Afferents and Primary Headache: The Indefensible Perspective” (a 2.5 -minute read).

Head Pain

Bilateral means on both sides.

Bilateral head pain is felt on both sides of the head simultaneously.

Getting ready for yesterday's Q & A.

It was fabulous to have people from Canada, New Zealand, the US and Australia join the session.

We appreciate that people are now coming forward with case study presentations and interacting with one another.

Thank you to you all.

OC3 In Headache Matters

Menstrual Migraine and Cervical Afferents: The Cross-Examination.

Seminal research has shown that hormonal profiles do not differ between women with menstrual migraine and those without.

On top of that, how is a systemic (hormonal) influence directly responsible for unilateral and alternating head pain?

Read more by clicking on the link http://bit.ly/3Bo4lsd or...

1. going to http://WatsonHeadache.com
2. go to OC3 in Headache Matters, under Resources
3. choose Edition 33 - “Menstrual Migraine and Cervical Afferents: The Cross-Examination" (a 3-minute read)

For past online and in-person course attendees.

02 October Q & A Session Online
8a.m. - 9a.m. Wednesday

16 October Q & A Session Online
7p.m. - 8p.m. Wednesday