Dr Dean H Watson

Having treated secondary and primary headache exclusively since 1991, I have over 24000 hours of clinical experience with 8000 patients. I am the founder of the Watson Headache® Approach, Director of the Watson Headache® Clinic and Watson Headache® Institute.

My PhD investigated the role of cervical afferents in primary headache. I have published in Cephalalgia and Headache as well as presented as an invited speaker on numerous occasions at inter/national meetings.

I remain an active clinician, teacher, researcher and PhD supervisor and is an adjunct lecturer at the University of South Australia.  

My clinical experience and research suggests that cervical afferents are not only responsible for ‘cervicogenic headache’ but a peripheral source of central sensitisation in primary headache conditions. This will be reflected in his presentations at our symposium: ‘Turning Primary Headache Upside Down’ Milan, Italy 4th and 5th May, 2018

There is widespread agreement that sensitisation of the trigemino cervical nucleus accompanies migraine (at least). Elementary neuro anatomy commissions the (noxious) C1-3 afferents as potential source of sensitisation of the trigemino cervical nucleus, yet they are largely dismissed…

‘Cervicogenic Headache’: an Intellectual Straitjacket? … will present the evidence for C1-3 afferents being a key player in primary headache.

The medical model of headache cannot explain alternating unilateral headache. Furthermore, cervicogenic headache is considered side-locked unilateral headache. Dean will present the case for the alternating behaviour of unilateral headache being cervicogenic (and around 80% of migraine alternates) in:

‘Alternating Headache; C2-3… Guilty or an Innocent Bystander?’

I will also be presenting one of the concurrent workshops:

Un-united Odontoid Fracture: is Passive Mobilisation Contra indicated? An Exercise in Clinical Reasoning.

Looking forward to seeing you in Milano!

Dean

Dr Dean H Watson PhD (Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist)