Who We Are

Introducing Dean Watson and Watson Headache 

Established by Dean Watson in 1991...

...The Headache Clinic was renamed Watson Headache Clinic in 2011. We are manual therapists who use the internationally acclaimed 'Watson Headache Approach' to  identify the missing link in the headache-migraine condition.

Dear Headache-Migraine Sufferer,     

You may have already taken a few moments to look around our website. I am confident information on this site will assist your decision making regarding the management of your headache-migraine condition. Furthermore, how one neglected but critical factor, disorders of the upper neck, are likely to be involved.

My name is Dean Watson, founder of the Watson Headache Clinic.  I have devoted the past 22 years to the assessment and management of the upper neck in headache-migraine conditions.  My 21000 hours of experience with over 7000 headache-migraine sufferers has confirmed that disorders of the upper neck can be responsible for various headache-conditions.  This clinical experience has been supported recently by my groundbreaking PhD research at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia.

My unparalleled experience has led to the development of an examination and treatment approach which is now taught and practiced in over 20 countries.  Some are saying that this approach, which has now become known as the 'Watson Headache Approach', is unrivaled, not only because of its ability to identify relevant neck disorders, but also which spinal segments need to be treated.

Teaching internationally for over 15 years, I have published work in international journals as well as given numerous keynote and invited presentations at national and international conferences.  I am also an Adjunct Lecturer on the Physiotherapy Musculoskeletal Masters program at the University of South Australia.

I invite you to take a moment to read about the Watson Headache Clinic and Watson Headache Approach, as well as how an assessment of your upper neck may benefit your headache-migraine condition.

Thank you for dropping by…

Cheers

Dean

Dean H Watson

P.S.  Oh ... there’s one more thing - if your headache-migraine is one sided and it can be on either side - it is your neck - no doubt!

Watson Headache Clinic

At the Watson Headache Clinic our goal is to provide the most skilled and advanced examination and treatment of the upper neck for superior long-term outcomes for those experiencing headache-migraine.

The Watson Headache Clinic (formerly The Headache Clinic) was established in Adelaide, South Australia in 1991. The Watson Headache Clinic is nationally and internationally regarded as a ‘centre of excellence’ in the assessment and management of upper neck disorders in headache-migraine conditions, attracting headache-migraine sufferers from interstate, Asia, Europe, the United Kingdom and North America.

Similarly, this recognition has attracted health practitioners from around the world to observe the ‘Watson Headache Approach’ and our unique Get Your Head Back® program.

To reflect the Watson Headache Approach’s unique advanced assessment and management methodology as well as its international standing, the Watson Headache Clinic's head office is now located in Sydney.

Watson Headache Approach

 
The 'Watson Headache Approach', has evolved from Dean's unique, incomparable experience of over 21000 hours with 7000 headache-migraine sufferers, which is now supported by his PhD research.

If a spinal disorder is responsible for a headache-migraine condition the disorder will involve one or more of the top three spinal segments. The fundamental and most powerful feature of the Watson Headache Approach is the method of examining the movements of the top three spinal segments.

Relevancy of a disorder (and it is usually stiffness or loss of function) involving the top three segments is confirmed when gently stressing or moving these segments reproduces usual head pain and/or associated symptoms, and, that the reproduced pain or symptoms ease as the technique is sustained.  This feature (reproduction and lessening of head pain/symptoms) has recently been shown to desensitise the brainstem, which is the fundamental disorder in the headache-migraine process.

This is how the ‘Triptans’ (the heavy duty anti migraine medication) abort a migraine attack - they desensitise the brainstem. (What would you rather do - continue taking medication for (temporary) relief or decrease the sensitisation longer term?)

Secondly the techniques, if used in a systematic way, can identify which of the top three segments are at fault. This diagnostic accuracy is unparalleled in manual therapy and significantly improves the chances of a successful outcome because treatment can be directed at the appropriate segments.

Finally these same techniques are used as treatment to restore function to the involved segments. The Watson Headache Approach does not involve any cracking techniques. The techniques gently stress the appropriate spinal segments in a smooth, sustained, persuasive manner, and can be ceased immediately if need be.  During treatment, you as a headache-migraine sufferer, are empowered because you are in control and encouraged to converse with the treating practitioner at all times.

There you have it - the Watson Headache Approach; confirming and treating relevant upper neck disorders in headache-migraine is not complicated ... and there is no guesswork!

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