Which muscle is involved in headaches?

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Headache pain often starts from tightness and trigger points in the upper neck muscles where the head meets the spine, with the suboccipital group being particularly influential. These deep muscles sit right under the occipital bone and attach to the first two cervical vertebrae. When they become tense or inflamed, they send nociceptive signals that can refer pain to the occipital region of the head. This referral pattern, along with the way signals from the upper neck interact with brainstem pathways that also receive facial pain input, helps explain why headaches—especially those felt at the back of the head—are tied to suboccipital muscle tension.

Other muscles in the neck can contribute to headaches by causing overall neck tension, but they don’t have the same direct, well-known link to occipital headache pain. Trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, and scalene muscles can influence neck discomfort and trigger points, yet the suboccipital muscles are most closely associated with headaches due to their location and their specific referral patterns.