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Dean Watson PhD

(Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist)

Dean Watson’s vision is that a skilled examination of the upper neck is genuinely accepted as a legitimate, routine practice when investigating headache and migraine conditions. Dean is the Founder of the Watson Headache Approach, which is now recognised internationally for its unparalleled diagnostic accuracy and uncomplicated innovative clinical reasoning.

He has presented and taught internationally since 1995, and because of his unique experience with over 8,000 headache and migraine sufferers, continues to be sought after as Clinical Consultant at the Watson Headache® Clinic as well as Educator and Professional Mentor for the Watson Headache® Institute. In the little time that is left in a day, you’ll find Dean designing logos and book covers, enjoying a glass of pinot noir whilst preparing the evening meal, or ‘extending’ his cardio vascular system in his daily gym sessions!

Dean has finalised his PhD research program at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia, which has, according to some, resulted in the most significant cervical manual therapy headache research in decades.

Current Positions

  • Director The Headache Clinic Pty Ltd (established in 1991) T/A Watson Headache Clinic – Sydney and Adelaide
  • Director Watson Headache Institute Pty Ltd (established 2002) T/A Watson Headache Institute – International
  • Adjunct Lecturer, Masters Program, School of Health Sciences, UniSA, South Aust
  • Presenter Watson Headache® Institute Level 1 Foundation, Level 2 Consolidation and Level 3 Certification Headache Courses. Also Webinars, Update, Refresher, Mastermind and Re-Certification Days.

Qualifications

Publications

Master of Applied Science in Manipulative Physiotherapy 1990

Cervical Headache: An investigation of natural head posture and upper cervical flexor muscle performance

Journal Publication:

Watson DH, Trott PH. Cervical Headache: An Investigation of Natural Head Posture and Upper Cervical Flexor Muscle Performance. Cephalalgia 1993; 13: 272-284

Degree of Doctor Of Philosophy 2016

Cervical Afferents in Primary Headache: An investigation of the potential role of cervical nociceptors in sensitising the trigemino-cervical nucleus in primary headache. Murdoch University Research Repository.

Journal  Publication:

Watson DH, Drummond PD. Head Pain Referral During Examination of the Neck in Migraine and Tension-Type Headache. Headache 2012; 52:1226-1235

Watson DH, Drummond PD. Cervical Referral of Head Pain in Migraineurs: Effects on the Nociceptive Blink Reflex. Headache 2014; 54:1035-1045

Watson DH, Drummond PD. The Role of the Trigemino Cervical Complex in Chronic Whiplash Associated Headache: A Cross Sectional Study. Headache 2016; 56: 961-975

Book Publication:

Bessler, Johannes et al (Editors) Manual Therapy Expert Knowledge the best focus article of 2012 -2016. 2018 Georg Thieme Verlag KG Deutschland (Cervicogenic Headache: Diagnostic Criteria in Practice, pgs 2010 -2015)

Physiotherapy Publication:

Australian Physiotherapy Association * * '*'

Physio First Summer 2004: In Touch 'The Medical Model of Headache... and along comes Cervicogenic Headache'

Physio First, Summer 2018 - Quality Private Physiotherapy: In Touch 'Alternating Headache: C2-3 Guilty or Not?'

Manuelletherapie Muskuloskeletales System - Klinik und Forschung September 2014 Seite 149 -196 Zervikogene Kopfschmerzen: Diagnosekriterien im ,,Praxistest" (Cervicogenic Headache: Diagnostic Criteria in Practice)

External Research

Luedtke K et al, International consensus on the most useful physical examination tests used by physiotherapists for patients with headache: A Delphi study Manual Therapy, 2016 June, Volume 23, Pages 17–24

  • A research study designed to identify which physical examination tests international experts in physiotherapy consider the most clinically useful for the assessment of patients with headache. Dr Dean Watson was included in this research as one of the international experts in physiotherapy.

Pilling, M. A., Davidson, I., Todd, C., Crooks, K., & Newington, L. A pre-test, post-test intervention study (with embedded waiting list control) to assess the feasibility (efficacy; acceptability; and methodology) of mobilization of C0-C3 cervical segments to reduce headache in migaineurs. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 10.17863

  • A clinical trial assessing the effectiveness of the Watson Headache® Approach for migraine sufferers. *Please Note: Whilst permission was given by the Watson Headache® Institute to undertake this research,  the Approach was not strictly adhered to.

Janani AS, Pope KJ, Fenton N, Grummett TS, Bakhshayesh H, Lewis TW, Watson DH, Whitham EM, Willoughby JO. Resting cranial and upper cervical muscle activity is increased in patients with migraine. Clin Neurophysiol. 2018 Sep;129(9):1913-1919.

Guest Speaker

  • Germany, Nuremberg CRAFTA 2009
  • United Kingdom, London, Physiotherapy and Orthopaedic Group 2009
  • Spain, Madrid, Physiotherapy Group 2010
  • Australia, Adelaide, South Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) 2011
  • Australia, Perth, Western Australian Branch Physiotherapy Association (APA) 2012
  • Australia, Sydney, New South Wales Branch Physiotherapy Association (APA) 2012
  • World Wide Webinars Launch 2013 (See recordings Headache and Neck https://www.worldhealthwebinars.com.au
  • Spain, Barcelona, Physiotherapy Group 2015
  • Australia, Sydney, WHI Inaugural Headache Symposium 2016
  • Australia, Perth, Western Australia Manual Concepts 2009 - 2017
  • Italy, Milan, Lombardia Chapter of the Italian Association of Physiotherapy 2017
  • Australia, Sydney, WHI Headache Symposium 2017
  • Australia, Melbourne, Back In Motion Health Group 2017
  • United Kingdom, Nottingham Physio First Conference 2018
  • Italy, Milan, WHI Inaugural International Headache Symposium 2018
  • Australia, Adelaide, University of South Australia Graduate Physiotherapy Conference 2018

Presentations

  • 'Cervicogenic Headache: Clandestine Headache'
  • 'Headache in Sport: Exercise-Induced Headache'
  • 'Diagnosing headache is like a dog’s breakfast ... it’s all over the place! and therefore... is a diagnosis clinically relevant?'
  • ‘Migraine’ and C1-3 afferents… an inconvenient marriage'
  • 'The Role of Cervical Afferents in Brainstem Sensitisation'
  • 'Post Concussion Syndrome and the Sensitised Brainstem'
  • 'Cervical and Lumbar Discs Compared'
  • A Manual Therapy Approach to Post Concussion Syndrome'
  • 'Finding Common Ground with the GP'
  • 'Conceptualising Cervicogenic Headache: Useful or Not? The Case for 'Cervico-Saurus' Headache
  • ‘Cervicogenic Headache: useful… or an ‘intellectual straitjacket?'
  • 'Alternating Headache: C2-3 Disc… Guilty or an Innocent Bystander?'
  • 'Headache Patients Love to Talk - Get the Most out of Your Subjective Examination'
  • 'Cervicogenic Headache: secondary or... Primary Headache? Or... both?'

Courses

  • Presented 1, 2, 3 and 4 day workshops Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Singapore, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Norway, Austria, Greece and Italy
  • Courses have received previous accreditation in Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom

Mentoring

  • Physiotherapy undergraduates and graduates contact Dean for educational advice and support re their research projects
  • Dean is available to speak with past course participants from Manual Therapy disciplines as well as other health professionals seeking to support their patients/clients by understanding the role of the neck in headache and migraine
  • Dean also supports these health professionals in how to communicate the role of the neck in headache and migraine with colleagues and the public in a professional credible manner

Panel

  • National Pharmacies Vital Health February 2003 Ask the Expert's Panel to answer health questions

Interviews

  • Liz Mayoh 'How To Stop Your Neck pain Headache With These Tips' Body and Soul