4 Applied Neurology Strategies to Prevent Migraines (That No One’s Talking About)

What If Everything You’ve Been Told About Preventing Migraines Is Wrong?

Most migraine prevention strategies focus on avoiding triggers—stay away from caffeine, don’t skip meals, manage stress, and so on. But what if trigger avoidance is only part of the solution?

What if the real key to preventing migraines lies in rewiring the nervous system itself?

As a physiotherapist or physical therapist, you already know that pain is about more than just the site of discomfort. It’s about how the brain processes sensory input, interprets threats, and regulates nervous system responses.

Migraines aren’t just headaches; they’re a neurological event. And when you address the nervous system directly, you’re no longer just treating symptoms—you’re eliminating the source of the problem.

So, let’s go beyond basic lifestyle recommendations.

Here are four applied neurology strategies we have used and taught in our Fundamentals Proogram that can help you and your clients prevent migraines at the source.

You'll need to use the assess-reassess process to determine if your chosen solution is effective. The Fundamentals of Applied Neurology course provides simple, actionable assessments to guide you.

1. Train the Trigeminal Nerve to Reduce Sensory Overload 

Most people don’t realize that the trigeminal nerve (Cranial Nerve V) is a key player in migraines. This nerve is responsible for sending sensory information from the face, jaw, and scalp to the brainstem.

When it becomes hypersensitive, even normal stimuli—like light, sounds, or certain foods—can trigger a migraine.

Instead of just avoiding triggers, we can train the trigeminal nerve to better regulate sensory input.

Try This Neurological Drill:

•  Trigeminal Slacking
•  Light Touch Desensitization:

When the trigeminal nerve is more adaptable, the brain is less likely to perceive normal stimuli as a migraine trigger.

See The Fundamentals of Applied Neurology Course to learn the assess and reassess process. 

2. Improve Brainstem Function to Regulate Pain Thresholds

 The brainstem acts as a control center for pain regulation. If it’s overactive or underregulated, the threshold for migraine pain gets lower, meaning migraines become more frequent and more intense.

By improving brainstem function, we can help the nervous system become more resilient to potential triggers.

How to Strengthen the Brainstem:

•  Gaze Stabilization Drills
•  Breathing & Vagus Nerve Activation

Better brainstem regulation means fewer pain signals reaching the brain, ultimately reducing migraine occurrence.

Check out the Fundamentals of Applied Neurology Course, where we go into brainstem function, accompanying neuro drills, and breathing techniques. See below for more details!

3. Optimize the Vestibular System to Reduce Motion Sensitivity

Many migraine sufferers don’t realize their inner ear and balance system (vestibular system) is a huge factor in how their brain processes movement and spatial awareness.

If a client experiences dizziness, unsteadiness, or motion-triggered migraines, their vestibular system might be dysfunctional.

Strengthening this system helps the brain better integrate sensory input, reducing the likelihood of migraines triggered by movement or visual stimuli.

Vestibular Training for Migraine Prevention:

•  Smooth Pursuits
•  Head Tilting Drills

A strong vestibular system creates a more stable nervous system, decreasing the brain’s likelihood of overreacting to motion and causing migraines.

See The Fundamentals of Applied Neurology Course and you will learn the importance of the vestibular system to the nervous system.

4. Use Neurological Mobility Training to Decrease Threat Perception

One of the most overlooked migraine prevention strategies is training the nervous system to feel safe in movement. If a client’s brain perceives certain positions, movements, or environments as a threat, it can trigger migraines as a protective response.

This is why some clients experience migraines after certain workouts, prolonged sitting, or specific postures—the brain interprets these as unsafe and responds with pain.

Movement-Based Nervous System Training:

•  Cranial Mobilizations
•  Proprioceptive Drills

When the nervous system is more adaptable, it’s less likely to create migraines as a defensive reaction.

The Future of Migraine Prevention: Training the Nervous System, Not Just Avoiding Triggers

For too long, migraine prevention has focused on what to avoid rather than what to improve. But we now know that the nervous system is the missing link in migraine treatment.

✅ By strengthening the trigeminal nerve, optimizing brainstem function, improving the vestibular system, and training neuro-mobility, you can help clients prevent migraines from the root cause.

Want to Learn How to Apply These Techniques in Your Practice?

The Next Level Neuro Fundamentals Program is designed specifically for physiotherapists, physical therapists, and movement professionals who want to integrate applied neurology into their practice for better migraine prevention and pain management.

Step-by-step applied neurology training for pain relief and nervous system regulation
Hands-on techniques to rewire the brain for long-term migraine relief
Expert mentorship to help you master the science of applied neurology

Start using these strategies today and transform how you treat migraines in your clients!

Join the Next Level Neuro Fundamentals Program and take your practice to the next level!