Which combination of findings is commonly observed with cervicogenic headache?

• A. Anterior head carriage; Osseous degenerative changes; Altered neck posture; Restricted cervical ROM
• B. Dermatomal leg pain with numbness
• C. Fever with widespread malaise
• D. Hearing loss with tinnitus

Answer: (A)

Cervicogenic headache is pain that originates from structures in the neck and is referred to the head. The pattern you see reflects neck involvement: forward or anterior head carriage and altered neck posture place extra strain on the cervical spine, especially the upper cervical joints and surrounding muscles. Degenerative changes in the cervical bones (such as wear and tear of the joints) contribute to stiffness and pain, while restricted cervical range of motion shows that these neck structures are limiting movement and driving the referred head pain. In practice, this combination—forward head posture, degenerative cervical changes, and reduced neck mobility—fits the typical picture of cervicogenic headache.

The other sensations described don’t fit cervicogenic headache patterns: leg-dominant dermatomal pain with numbness points to lumbar or sacral radiculopathy; fever with malaise suggests a systemic infection or inflammatory process; hearing loss with tinnitus points to ear-related pathology.