Headaches and Migraines

Ready to find out what's really behind your headaches?

New patients welcome from Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, West Richland and across the Tri-Cities.

Book Online   Call (509) 820-3828

Headaches can drain your energy and make it hard to focus at work, at school or at home. Many recurring headaches are linked to the neck, jaw, shoulders and posture. At ICE in Kennewick we work to identify what type of headache you have and what's driving it, then build a plan that addresses those drivers.

Common types of headaches

• Tension-type headaches: a band-like pressure or tightness around the head, often linked to tight neck and shoulder muscles, stress and posture
• Cervicogenic headaches: headaches that start in the neck, often on one side, that may begin at the base of the skull and spread forward. They're often worse with certain neck positions.
• Migraines: often throbbing, one-sided headaches that can come with nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, and sometimes an aura. Migraines are a neurological condition with many triggers. Neck tension and posture can be among them.
• TMJ-related headaches: pain around the temples linked to jaw clenching and jaw joint problems (see TMJ & jaw pain)
• Eye-strain headaches from long screen time and poor visual ergonomics

Common causes and triggers: the kinetic-chain view

• Forward-head posture: when your head drifts forward, the muscles at the base of the skull work much harder to hold it up.
• Upper neck joint restrictions that irritate nearby nerves and muscles
• Shoulder and upper-back tension, which is often linked to how your shoulder blades and arms are used at work
• Jaw clenching and TMJ problems
• Thoracic outlet tightness, where the nerves and vessels to the arm pass between the neck and armpit
• Lifestyle triggers: stress, poor sleep, dehydration, skipped meals, eye strain, and, for migraines, hormones and certain foods

Watch: Why Eye Strain Causes Headaches (And Why They Keep Coming Back)

Symptoms we commonly see

• Pressure or tightness around the forehead, temples or back of the head
• Pain at the base of the skull that spreads to the eye or forehead
• Neck stiffness or reduced neck motion
• Headaches that get worse through the workday or after screen time
• Headaches with jaw pain or clicking

How ICE treats headaches

We take a detailed headache history, including frequency, location, triggers and associated symptoms, and screen for warning signs. Then we examine your neck, upper back, shoulders, jaw and posture. We re-check neck motion and tender areas after treatment to track what's changing.

Care may include:

• Spinal adjustments for the neck and upper back.
• Cranial manipulation: gentle techniques for the cranial structures.
• Extremity adjustments for the jaw, collarbone joints and shoulders, which influence neck tension.
• Manual therapy for the muscles at the base of the skull, neck and shoulders.
• Corrective exercises: deep neck-flexor strength, posture and shoulder-blade work, plus workstation and screen-time tips.

We also talk about sleep, hydration, stress and other triggers, and we coordinate with your medical provider when needed.

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Watch: What kind of headache do I have?

Treated by an extremity-certified chiropractor who teaches other doctors

Headaches often involve the neck, jaw and shoulders, so the whole upper body needs to be checked. Your care at ICE is led by Dr. Kyle Bryant, DC, CCEP, the founder of Integrative Chiropractic and Extremities. Dr. Bryant is a Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner (CCEP), an advanced credential awarded by the Council on Extremity Adjusting after 105 hours of advanced extremity training and a practical exam. He has 15+ years in practice, he teaches his extremity assessment approach to other chiropractors, and he has been invited onto several professional chiropractic podcasts to talk about extremity adjusting. A former collegiate, semi-pro and international soccer player, he knows first-hand what joint injuries do to the way an athlete moves.

He practices alongside Dr. Joseph Friedman, DC, who builds personalized plans around spinal and extremity adjustments and integrative therapies. Every patient gets extremity care as part of the evaluation, not as an add-on.

What to expect

Initial visits typically take 15–60 minutes, and in most cases treatment starts the same day. Follow-ups usually take 10–20 minutes. A headache diary showing when headaches happen, how strong they are, and possible triggers helps us track progress. Many people see changes in how often or how strongly headaches occur, but responses vary, especially with migraines.

At-home care

• Set up your screen at eye level and take short breaks every 30–60 minutes.
• Stay hydrated, keep regular meals and a consistent sleep schedule.
• Do your neck and posture exercises daily. Short and consistent works best.

When to get emergency care

Call 911 or go to the emergency room for a sudden, severe "worst headache of your life," a headache with fever and stiff neck, confusion, weakness or numbness, trouble speaking, vision loss, or loss of balance, or a headache after a head injury. See a medical provider promptly for a new headache pattern after age 50, headaches that are steadily getting worse, or headaches that wake you from sleep.

Frequently asked questions

Can a chiropractor help with headaches?

Many tension-type and neck-related (cervicogenic) headaches involve the neck, upper back, jaw and posture, which are areas chiropractic care and exercise address. For migraines, care may help reduce some triggers, but migraines are a neurological condition and are often best managed together with your medical provider.

How do I know if my headache is coming from my neck?

Neck-related headaches often start at the base of the skull, are on one side, and are affected by neck position or movement. Reduced neck motion is common. Our exam helps identify them.

Can my jaw cause headaches?

Yes. Jaw clenching and TMJ problems can cause pain around the temples and side of the head. We check your jaw as part of every headache exam.

Are neck adjustments safe?

Neck adjustments are generally considered safe when performed by a trained chiropractor after a proper screening. We screen every patient and use gentle, low-force options when they're more appropriate.

Should I keep a headache diary?

Yes. Tracking when headaches happen, how strong they are, and what came before them helps identify triggers and shows whether care is helping.

Get your headaches evaluated in Kennewick

You don't have to keep guessing. Our doctors will look at the painful area and the joints above and below it, show you what they find, and walk you through a plan you can understand.

Integrative Chiropractic and Extremities (ICE Clinics) · 7117 W Hood Pl, Ste 130, Kennewick, WA 99336
Hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 9:00–12:30 & 3:30–6:00 · Tue/Thu 9:00–12:30 & 2:30–5:00

Paying for care: we are primarily self-pay, and we also accept Medicare, auto injury claims and L&I (Washington Labor & Industries) claims. No referral is needed. See what to expect as a new patient.

Book Your Visit Online   Call (509) 820-3828

Related conditions

TMJ & jaw pain · Shoulder pain · Carpal tunnel & wrist pain

Back to all conditions we treat.

This page is general health information, not a diagnosis or a promise of results. Everyone responds differently. If you have severe, sudden or worsening symptoms, please contact your medical provider or call 911.