Clinical Classification of Headache Disorders

This course covers the physiological mechanisms of various headache types, including tension-type, migraines, and cluster headaches. Students will learn about their pathophysiology, clinical presentation, triggers, and evidence-based management approaches in physical therapy practice. The content supports core concepts taught in Physiology III through curated digital resources.

No Certificate / Course on Audit Track

About Course

The course Clinical Classification of Headache Disorders provides an overview of headache types, their classification, and key clinical characteristics. It explores the differences between primary and secondary headaches, helping learners understand their causes and distinguishing features. The course covers common primary headache disorders, including migraine, cluster headaches, and tension-type headaches. Learners will develop a foundational understanding of headache patterns and clinical classification to support accurate identification and assessment

Authorship and Attribution

This course has been curated by Riphah International University faculty and staff using publicly available third-party content and Open Educational Resources (OER) for self-paced learning. Learners will engage with curated open-access materials to achieve the course learning outcomes. All third-party content is used under open-access or fair-use policies, while any original materials are developed specifically for this learning experience.

Source and Credits:

  • Instructor: Ninja Nerd
  • Provider: YouTube (@NinjaNerdOfficial)
  • License: Standard YouTube license

What You'll Learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Classify headaches into primary and secondary types.
  • Describe clinical features of migraine, tension-type, and cluster headaches.
  • Explain the pathophysiology and causes of common headaches.
  • Identify red flag symptoms indicating serious conditions.
  • Apply diagnostic reasoning to differentiate headache types.

Prerequisites

Learners are expected to have a basic understanding of physiology.

Who Can Take This Course?

This course is designed for undergraduate students of DPT enrolled in Physiology III

Course Outline

Types of Headaches

Types of Headaches | Primary vs. Secondary | Migraine, Cluster, Tension Headaches (Video)

Skills You Will Gain

Headache Classification Primary vs. Secondary Headaches Migraine Identification Cluster Headache Recognition Tension-Type Headaches Clinical Symptom Assessment Headache Pattern Recognition Differential Diagnosis Basics

Course Information

Duration

Approximately 1.4 Hours

Course Information
  • Oct 21, 2026
  • On Going
Self-paced
Category:
Curated Courses
Language:
English

Free

Difficulty Level

Beginner

Learning Mode

Fully Online (Asynchronous)

Learning Type

Self Paced

Language

English Only

Instructor/Curator

Course Instructor
  • Dr. Ayesha Bashir profile image
    Dr. Ayesha Bashir

    Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Rehabilitation & Allied Health Sciences (FRAHS)