Cranium/Headache
Course

In-person dates:
November 8-9, 2025
Wilmington, NC

LifeForce Physical Therapy
6752 Parker Farm Dr

Learn to Become a Headache Specialist:
Covers cervicogenic, tension-type, dural, post-concussion and migraine headaches. Confidently assess for red flags and other presentations that need outgoing referral. In-depth review of select cranial and occipital nerves.

  • On-line Discussion  

    With other learners and
    instructor

  • CEU Course

    See specifics for each course 

  • 24 hours Total

    Course duration

  • Current Evidence

    Key research papers

    Headaches: How specialty therapy can help patients that suffer from headaches

    Clinical evidence shows that physical therapy is effective for many types of headaches by using a combination of manual therapy, exercise therapy and specific advice. This course can help you become an expert in the clinical treatment of different forms of headaches.

    Courses qualify towards required specialty CEUs for application to sit for the CCTT certification exam.

    Attract an expanded referral base of neurologists, primary care, dental professionals, ENTs, neurosurgeons and other cranial pain specialists.

    Course Syllabus

    This Headache/Cranium Course is an intensive, in-person course that is blended with online didactic education for a comprehensive 24 contact-hour learning experience.

    Blended Course Format:
    • In-person instruction (14 hours): Demonstrations and guided hands-on practice of examination and treatment techniques. Case discussion.

    • On-line Learning (10 hours): Foundational knowledge to prepare participants for the in-person segment. Video lectures, select key articles to read and short quizzes to assess and consolidate learning. Online discussion community to communicate with the instructor and fellow students. On-line access to these resources continues for 6 months after the initial access date. 
    Purpose:
    This course is designed to minimize lecture time during in-person sessions, allowing for an engaging, skill-oriented learning environment. The goal is to:

    1. Deliver high-quality, in-depth, evidence-informed education on conservative headache rehabilitation.
    2. Equip participants with practical skills for immediate application in their clinical practice.
    3. Refine and enhance existing skills or introduce a new specialty area to a participant's professional scope.
    Learning Objectives:

    • Identify and differentiate International Headache Society (ICHD-3) primary and secondary headache classifications.
    • Identify associated pain mechanisms (per IASP) such as acute nociceptive sources, neuropathic sources and trigeminal sensitization.
    • Effectively screen patients for red-flag conditions and identify the types of headaches that rehab professionals can effectively treat.
    • Identify headache phenotypes and endotypes to enable precision, patient-specific treatments.
    • Identify co-morbidities affecting the headache rehabilitation process.
    • Demonstrate effective manual treatments to boney tissues, fascia, nerve and muscle to assist in headache reduction/elimination.
    • Identify and treat cranial nerve dysfunction specific to headache and related conditions. Cranial nerves covered in this program include: III, IV, V1, VI, VIII and X. (Cranial nerves V2, V3 and VII are covered in the TMD course, IX and XII are covered in the tongue/airway course, and XI is covered in the Cervical/Scapula course.
    • Communicate and collaborate effectively with primary care, neurologists, ENTs, dentists and other health care specialists specific to the headache population.
    • Design and  teach bench-mark specific exercises for effective load transfer, motor control, posture strategies and nerve unloading in the headache population.
    • Teach patients evidence-based self-are strategies.
    • Appreciate the biopsychosocial complexity of the headache population.
    In-Person Lab Schedule:

    Saturday

    7:30-8:00 Registration

    8:00-9:30 Introduction, Precision palpation of the cranium.

    9:30-10:00 Cranial nerves III, IV, V1, VI, VIII, and X

    10:00-10:15 Break

    10:15-11:15 Cranial nerves III, IV, V1, VI, VIII, and X palpation and assessment, continued.

    11:15-12:15 Screening for safety (IFOMPT guidelines)

    12:15-1:15 Lunch (on own)

    1:15-2:15 Examination and treatment of muscle dysfunction associated with Headache.

    2:15-3:15 Examination and treatment of fascial dysfunction associated with Headache.

    3:15-3:30 Break

    3:30-5:00 Examination and treatment of the boney cranium as an instrument of nociception, load transfer and dural attachemt.  



    Sunday

    8:00-9:00 Headache cases and integration of didactic materials.

    9:00-10:00 Treatment of the occipital nerves and cranial nerves III, IV, V1, VI, VIII and V.

    10:00-10:15 Break

    10:15-11:15  Treatment of the occipital nerves and cranial nerves III, IV, V1, VI, VIII and V.., continued.


    11:15-12:15 Posture and exercise: looking at the whole patient: focus on slow twitch muscles, proprioception and motor control.

    12:15-1:15 Lunch (on own)

    1:15-2:15 Patient Education for ADLs, prognosis and ongoing self-management.

    2:15-3:15 Influence of other regions/dysfunctions: cranium, headaches, WAD, cranial and cervical nerves, craniovertebral region, anterior neck, airway/tongue, swallowing and scapulae.

    3:15-3:45 Wrap up: Case review and analysis.

    Dr. Liz Henry

    PT, DSc, OCS, COMT, FAAOMPT, CCTT
    Patrick Jones - Course author