111 - The Watson Headache® Approach with Dr. Dean Watson

Aug 03, 2023

💭 “We are now doing a cervical intervention and demonstrating desensitization in the trigeminocervical complex. It is widely accepted that sensitization of the brain stem, the trigeminocervical complex, is the underlying disorder and is crucial in migraine, cluster headache, and tension headache.” - Dr. Dean Watson.

👉🏻 Our guest is Dr. Dean Watson, PT, MS, Ph.D. Dean graduated in 1976 with Dip-Tech Physio, subsequently with a Graduate Diploma in Advanced Manipulative Therapy (Hons), and Master Manipulative Therapy (University of South Australia), culminating with a Ph.D. in 2017 from Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia. Dean’s Ph.D. investigated the potential role of cervical afferents in migraine, which for the first time demonstrated a manual cervical intervention (Reproduction and Resolution of typical head pain – a fundamental tenet of the Watson Headache® Approach) de-sensitized the trigeminal cervical complex, the underlying disorder in migraine. Since 1990, Dean has treated headache and migraine conditions exclusively, accumulating over 40000 hours of clinical experience with over 10000 patients. From this experience, the Watson Headache® Approach has evolved. Dean has taught and presented internationally on numerous occasions since 1997, the Approach having been introduced to over 4000 practitioners in 25 countries. Dean has published in Cephalalgia and Headache and has authored several book chapters. He remains an active clinician, researcher, educationalist, and author. Dean is currently an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of South Australia.

📚You will learn about:

▪️ Dean's story and career

▪️ Primary and secondary headaches and their presentations

▪️ How to Identify red flag associated with headaches

▪️ The role of cervical afferents in headaches and migraines

▪️ The Watson Headache approach

▪️ How to desensitize a sensitized brainstem

▪️ Advice to clinicians who are starting their careers

▪️ Tips on how to become successful in Physical Therapy

🔎Dean's favorite resource of information: