Professional Education: A Complimentary Guide For Health Professionals
10 Misconceptions When Treating Headache and Migraine
In this guide Dean dispels commonly held myths and explains how to significantlyĀ improve the life of a headache or migraine sufferer with theĀ Watson Headache Approach.
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Watson HeadacheĀ® Education
Understanding the Role of the Neck in Cervicogenic and Primary Headache For Health Professionals Managing Headache and Migraine
Programs and courses are designed to inform individuals living with and health
professionals managing headache and migraine, about the role of neck disorders
and the Watson HeadacheĀ®Approach.
Are You A Health Professional Wanting To Make A Difference?
Watson HeadacheĀ® Institute Education Pathway
Watson HeadacheĀ®Ā Approach
Recent research has shown that theĀ Watson HeadacheĀ® Approach significantly reduces the underlying and widely accepted disorder in primary headache conditions i.e. a āsensitized brainstemā. This is not just about ācervicogenic headacheā. Underpinning our Approach is the importance of the upper cervical afferents in primary headache, recognition of a previously unrecognized clinical pattern, a series of innovative techniques, and the importance of āreproduction and resolutionā of typical symptoms. With this protocol you will assess and manage headache and migraine safely and effectively. Using current research, you will confidently answer questions in your clinical setting about the role of the neck and its relevance as a causative factor in headache and migraine.
What is the Watson HeadacheĀ®Ā Approach?
The Watson HeadacheĀ® Approach is a manual, non-manipulative series of specific techniques used to assess the relevance of, and managing segmental (mis) behaviour/dysfunction of the C0-C3 segments, in headache and migraine conditions as well as any condition in which the potential underlying disorder is a sensitised lower brainstem/ trigemino cervical nucleus.
The Watson HeadacheĀ® Approach utilises original techniques to selectively stress with slow (non-oscillatory) sustained thumb pressure, specific segments (within their expected range of movement), to ascertain relevance to headache and migraine.Ā This is achieved by reproduction and lessening of typical head pain and other associated (typically painless) symptoms as the technique is sustained.Ā This has been demonstrated scientifically to ameliorate the underlying disorder (a sensitised trigemino cervical nucleus) in headache and migraine.
The techniques are then used innovatively to address a previously (prior to the Watson HeadacheĀ® Approach) unrecognised clinical pattern of musculoskeletal misbehaviour, addressing the reason for the misbehaviour, not the consequence (misbehaviour).
Continuing Professional Development
Dean Watson, on behalf of theĀ Watson HeadacheĀ®Ā Institute, presents to Manual Therapists (Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, Osteopaths and Manual Therapy Doctors) in the role of cervical afferents in cervicogenic and primary headache as well as the internationally acclaimed Watson HeadacheĀ®Ā Approach. TheĀ Watson HeadacheĀ®Ā Approach is the only scientifically validated manual cervical approach that has been shown to affect the underlying cause of headache and migraine conditions. Gain the skills, knowledge and experience to transform lives by helping those living with headache and migraine.
Our continuing professional development courses consistently receive feedback scores of 9 or 10 from participants to indicate they would recommend our courses to colleagues. Thank you to those of you who have. This helps to fulfill Dean Watsonās vision that āa skilled examination of the upper cervical spine becomes routine when investigating headache and migraine conditionsā.
A New Skill Set and Community
With both offline and online courses, health professionals can acquire a new skill set to support making a difference in the lives of those living with headache and/or migraine. Participation also provides the opportunity to join a community advocating for cervicogenic headache and the role of cervical afferents in primary headache. Receive ongoing updates and invites to supporting events such as webinars, question and answer sessions and Watson HeadacheĀ® International Symposia and Summits.
3 Key Benefits of Our Courses
Determining the relevancy of upper cervical afferents in headache and migraine ā With 390 million migraine sufferers worldwide, clinical experience and scientific validation has proven that identifying cervical relevancy is a skill set you will need to treat more than just ācervicogenic headacheā.
Identifying a cervical cause of headache and migraine ā With the specific techniques of the Watson HeadacheĀ® Approach and associated clinical reasoning you will be able to precisely determine which segment/s of the neck are involved in headache and migraine thereby removing the guesswork out of management.
Utilizing a systematic approach to achieve superior clinical outcomes ā With this new skill set you will change lives; youāll be inundated with people searching for headache or migraine relief.
Education PathwayĀ
Online and In-Person Courses
Hosted by the Watson HeadacheĀ®Ā Institute
Presenter Dr Dean H Watson PhD APA Titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist
Please Note:Ā The Watson HeadacheĀ®Ā Institute courses are only open to thoseĀ holding aĀ Tertiary Qualification in, and
Professional Registration to practice asĀ aĀ Physiotherapist,Ā Chiropractor,Ā Osteopath orĀ Manual Therapy Doctor.
Online Course
Level 1 Foundation Course Online Recorded - 8 Modules
plus Access to 12 Weeks Live Streaming In-Person Q&A Sessions
For those who are unable to travel and want to start their Watson HeadacheĀ® Institute Education Pathway
Get Underway At Your Leisure - Register Any Time
In-Person CoursesĀ
Located in Adelaide South Australia
Level 1 Foundation Course
3 Day In-Person
For those who are able/want to travelĀ to start their Watson HeadacheĀ® Institute education pathway
Pre-requisite to the Consolidation Course after a minimum of 3 - 6 months of clinical practice
Level 2 Consolidation Course
3 Day In-Person
For those who are able/want to travel to continue their Watson HeadacheĀ® Institute education pathway
Pre-requisite: Completion Foundation and a minimum of 3 - 6 months of clinical practice since
Level 3 Certification Course
4 Day In-Person
For those who are able/want to travel to continue their Watson HeadacheĀ® Institute education pathway
Pre-requisite: Completion Consolidation course and a minimum of 3 - 6 months of clinical practice since
Whatās Included in OurĀ Professional Education Courses?
Laying The Foundations
Level 1 Foundation Course Online or In-Person
Be prepared for a paradigm shift! The Foundation Course Online/In-Person will not only change your perspective of the role of cervicogenic dysfunction in primary headache but also take the guesswork out of treating headache and migraine conditions ā no headache or migraine is complicated. In this intensive training you will:
Understand how cervicogenic dysfunction can be more than just a trigger for primary headache conditions i.e., it can be the cause.
Appreciate that the medical model of headache is clinically irrelevant and why a diagnosis is meaningless. After all, a diagnosis is just based on a set of signs and symptoms, it says nothing about the underlying pathology.
Discover how to take a sensitive and effective subjective examination. Arguably the subjective examination for headache and migraine conditions is more important than other musculoskeletal conditions not only because of Ź»Red FlagsŹ¼ i.e., slow leaking aneurysms (misdiagnosed significantly), cranial vasculitis, tumors, etc., and potential craniovertebral instability but also because there are no reproducible objective signs; there is an increased reliance on the subjective features for reassessment.
Learn how to conduct a non-aggressive, non-symptom provoking, effective stability assessment of the craniovertebral complex, using techniques you will understand; you wonŹ¼t be daunted when faced with this part of the assessment.
Familiarize yourself with the Ź»Watson HeadacheĀ® ApproachŹ¼, a scientifically validated (Dean will share the result of his groundbreaking PhD research; some are saying this is the most significant research in manual therapy and headache for decades) method of confirming cervicogenic dysfunction as the source of sensitization of the brainstem the disorder that underpins primary headache syndromes.
Why DeanŹ¼s manual therapy approach challenges and asks questions of the sensitized brainstem. The Ź»Watson HeadacheĀ® Approach identifies the segment/s involved. This diagnostic accuracy is unparalleled in manual therapy. The Approach also provides an alternative to high-velocity thrust techniques to address upper cervical segmental hypomobility.
Consolidate Your Learning
Level 2 Consolidation Course In-Person
To promote comprehensive discussion and interaction the Consolidation Course intentionally involve small groups of delegates. This takes full advantage of Deanās unparalleled experience.
Whilst on the Foundation Course you learned to ātouchā (excuse the pun!) type, the Consolidation Course is about becoming an āauthorā i.e., whilst anyone can learn a technique ( FoundationCourse), success depends on how you use them also known as āCLINICAL REASONINGā.
Apart from the first 2-3 hours where we re-visit aspects of the Foundation Course (where your questions and experiences with patients are addressed), the Consolidation Course is about facilitating and accelerating your progress; this is done through your participation in the case studies of 4-6 patients.
After this course your outcomes will be significantly improved because you will:
Realise the importance of āBattle 1ā (B1) versus āBattle 2ā (B2);
Be able to identify why progress is not as it should be. Your confidence in your choice of treatment direction and technique will be increased; no more uncertainty.
Achieve improved clarity around un-resolving (as the technique is sustained) headache and how you can still achieve a positive result even though headache reproduction remains unchanged.
Understand why in the event of an adverse reaction it occurred and how to deal with it!
Certifying Your Learning
Level 3 Certification Course In-Person
Completing the Certification Course demonstrates to employers, professional colleagues, and those living with headache and migraine conditions, that you have displayed a clear understanding of the fundamentals, theory and practical tenants of the Watson HeadacheĀ® Approach.
Upon completion of the course, a practitioner should be able to care for complex headache patients of all types and be competent in clinical reasoning, techniques and patient communication (education and counselling).
Ongoing recognition as a Watson HeadacheĀ® Certified Practitioner is conditional on maintaining the Watson HeadacheĀ® Approach standards, including pursuant to any re-certification by the Institute, as well as retaining such professional qualifications in good standing in his or her profession, and compliance with the Instituteās policies and procedures.
Our Guarantee
If after you have experienced the first two modules or two hours of any of our courses/programs/eventsĀ and you are not 100% happy, for whatever reason, we will refund your fee. We are more than comfortable making this guarantee because of participant feedback. We know the Watson HeadacheĀ® Instituteās courses will change your perspective on the headache and migraine condition as well as how you manage the upper cervical spine. You may be a little anxious about the value of your first course with us. We understand this, and trust this takes the risk out of yourĀ decision to join us.