The Connection Between Posture and Headaches: A Chiropractor’s Insight
- Dr. Amy
- Jul 15
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 5
Have You Considered That Your Headaches Might Be Coming from Your Posture?
If you’re dealing with headaches every day, waking up with tension in your neck, or feeling worn down from recurring pain behind your eyes, you’re not alone.
We'd like to invite you to become the newest member of a better community: the "Headaches Aren't Running My Life Anymore" Club.
Okay, that's not technically a real thing, but at Lifeway Mobile Chiropractic, we help women all over Kansas City find relief from chronic headaches by addressing a common culprit: poor posture. Let’s unpack what’s really going on when your posture and headaches are connected and how chiropractic care could be the key to helping you feel like yourself again.
The Hidden Link Between Posture and Headaches
Most people think of posture as no more than sitting up straight (like Mama said). It's really about healthy alignment of your spine and its soft tissue partners (muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia) and how well they support your head, neck, and nervous system. This is why we like to describe posture as strong or weak, rather than good or bad.
Spending a lot of time in any one position trains your supportive structures to love that posture. They can actually remodel and lose the beautiful balance of strength & suppleness that keeps you feeling great. Slouched shoulders, a forward head position, and standing with your weight over your toes are 3 of the most common postural changes we see in practice. Changes like these put extra strain on your upper back and neck. Over time, that tension can lead directly to:
Tension headaches
Headaches behind the eyes
Migraines triggered by muscle tightness
Neck pain that radiates upward
Pain, stiffness, and tightness at the base of the skull
Headaches when you wake up in the morning
We see it in students, professionals, and busy moms—really, anyone whose life has them spending hours in one position, whether that's in front of a screen, commuting, or nap-trapped! The stiffness creeps in gradually—
😒 first a dull ache comes on, after some type of trigger activity
😞 then you get pain a couple times a week, even when you're relaxing
😟 next it amplifies to having headaches every day
😖 and finally, you're keeping a stash of pain medicine in your car,
your desk, your diaper bag, and your bedside table and wondering:
Why You Might Wake Up with Headaches
While postural headaches are more common in the afternoon or evening, they can occur early in the day. If you've been wondering, “Why do I get headaches when I wake up?” the answer could lie in your sleeping posture. Whether you're getting a solid 8 hours a night or just 1 or 2 hours before nature or your tiny tyrant wake you, that's plenty of time in one position to cause a problem.
Some causes of awkward sleep posture include using too many pillows, being crowded by someone else in the bed, or having the wrong mattress. Poor sleep position can result in compressed nerves, muscle strain, or stiff joints, any of which could be the source of your frustrating pain in the morning.
Add to that any spinal misalignments and soft tissue tension lingering from your day, and your body is trying to recover from daytime life while sleeping in a poor position all night long!
What About Headaches Behind the Eyes?
Headaches that feel like pressure behind the eyes can be traced back to tension in many muscles in the upper back, neck, head, or jaw. When your head is consistently tilted forward (as in “tech neck”) or your shoulders round forward, these muscles become tight and inflamed, referring pain directly behind the eyes.
Chiropractic care targets the root of this problem by encouraging strong, supportive posture. Chiropractic adjustments help create:
Extension where your body is stuck in forward bending
More coordinated activity in postural muscles
Better use of your spine's natural, normal curves to distribute weight and tension evenly
Larger passageways for nerve roots to exit the spinal column
From acute pain relief, through correction of each patient's unique problem, and on into wellness care to prevent future flare-ups, clients who used to suffer from headaches behind their eyes multiple times a week often find themselves headache-free for the first time in years.
Exercises to Try at Home to Get Rid of Headaches
Here are 2 exercises we often recommend to folks with postural headaches. They're helpful to many people, because they target multiple postural muscles, are simple, and don't require any special equipment.
Chin Tuck
We affectionately call this the "Double Chin Exercise;" if you're making a double chin, you're probably doing it right. 😂 Sorry!
Directions
Slowly draw your head back so that your ears line up with your shoulders.
Keep your nose and chin level during this movement; don’t look up or down.
This woman isn't the best model for this exercise because she already has pretty good alignment! Notice, in the neutral picture on the left, that the opening of her ear is directly above her shoulder.
Wall W's
Directions
Stand with your head, shoulders, and butt against the wall and your feet a few inches away from it.
Push your low back toward the wall.
Place your hands above your head with your elbows and wrists against the wall.
Slide your arms down as far as you can, keeping your elbows & wrists against the wall and your low back near it.
The Role of Chiropractic Care in Headache Relief
When DIY exercises don't cut it, chiropractic is a safe and effective next step.
Chiropractic adjustments are designed to restore healthy alignment and motion in the spine, improve communication between your brain and body, and release muscle tension that contributes to posture-related headaches. Lifeway Mobile Chiropractics brings gentle, effective chiropractic care right to your door—no traffic, no crowded waiting rooms, just personalized care where you're most comfortable.
Here’s what a typical headache relief plan looks like:
Postural assessment to see how your body is carrying stress and identify soft tissue tension & imbalances
Chiropractic exam to locate restrictions in joint motion
Spinal adjustments to correct joint position and motion, especially in the neck and upper back
Soft tissue work to reduce muscle tension contributing to headaches
Lifestyle coaching to improve your posture during everyday activities
Stretching and movement routines that empower you to get the most out of your care
When your spine is aligned and moving smoothly, your muscles can relax, your nervous system can function properly, and you stop dealing with headaches tarnishing the simple beauty of everyday life. Many of our clients notice relief after just a few visits and wish they had tried chiropractic sooner!
You Don’t Have to Suffer with Headaches Every Day
We know how defeating it can feel to wake up with headaches every day, to lose focus every afternoon because your temples are aching, or to push through another evening with a pounding head. Relief is possible, and you can get better and longer-lasting results than the ones that come in a bottle.
Posture-related headaches are common. That doesn't mean they're normal, and they don't have to be permanent. At Lifeway Mobile Chiropractic, we’re committed to helping you uncover the cause of your pain and create a simple, effective path to healing.
We work with busy women across Kansas City who are juggling work, family, and life—women who need solutions that are convenient and effective. Our mobile care model means we come to you—at home, at work, or wherever you need us.
Stop Asking, “Why Do I Have Headaches Every Day?”
Whether your headaches are new or you’ve been living with them for years, don’t brush them off another day. Let's find your solution together.
📍 Serving the Kansas City area with mobile chiropractic care
🕒 Appointments designed around your busy life
💬 Clear explanations and simple treatment plans
Work With Us:
Let’s get to the root of your headaches—so you can live, give, and serve without pain.
📞 Call or text us at (816) 405-2532
📅 Book your first mobile visit today by clicking here
🚗 Chiropractic care that comes to you—because your time and health matter.