It's not uncommon to get headaches during or after exercising on a treadmill; exercise can actually trigger this type of pain. However, if you have cervical spine pain that accompanies your headache when walking on a treadmill, you may have an underlying spinal injury or other medical condition that could be triggering your headaches.
Definition
Headaches that occur during or after exercise fall into two categories: primary exercise headaches, which are caused directly by the exercise itself; and secondary exercise headaches, which are triggered by your activity but caused by something else, reports MayoClinic.com. If you have a headache stemming from the exercise itself, you'll have head pain, usually on both sides of your head, but no other symptoms. Secondary exercise headaches often have other symptoms, such as a stiff neck or vomiting, and often require immediate medical attention.
You can have spine pain that accompanies either a primary or a secondary exercise headache. In some cases, the spine pain will radiate up your spinal cord and trigger your headache, but in other cases the spine pain simply will appear at the same time as your headache. You should see your physician to determine the exact cause.
Potential Causes
Cervical spine pain and a headache that you get from walking on a treadmill could stem from an injury or other problem in your cervical spine. For example, arthritis in your spine can cause cervical spine pain, as can osteoporosis. In both cases, pain from those conditions might also give you a headache. If you have an old injury to your back, mention that to your physician; she may recommend tests or medical imaging to look for signs of problems in your spine. Your physician may also recommend imaging of your brain to rule out any potential problems there, such as a tumor. In addition, the bacterial infection meningitis can cause both cervical spine pain and a headache, both of which might appear after you walk on a treadmill.
Treatments
If your physician determines that an injury to your cervical spine caused your spine pain and headache, she may recommend treatments such as anti-inflammatory drugs or even a nerve block. If there's no underlying spinal injury, anti-inflammatory medications still might help, or you may be prescribed a blood pressure medication to alleviate pressure in your head.
Considerations
If your physician rules out any more serious causes for your cervical spine pain and headaches, you may simply need to strengthen your muscles to support your exercise routine. According to "Fitness" magazine, exercise can trigger headaches -- and potentially back pain as well -- if your muscles haven't become accustomed to your treadmill workout routine. Consider slowing down and then slowly increasing your intensity to let your muscles adjust.
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