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Marling, In a message dated 97-05-23 03:37:12 EDT, you write: << my doctor today said sometimes when these muscles in the neck get "tight" they pinch the occipital nerve causing a migrain-like headache. >> Yes, tight suboccipital muscles are affiliated with migraine-like headaches (also with simple tension headaches). Nerves, veins, arteries and lymph vessels can all be entrapped by tight muscles. The suboccipitals are not the only muscles in the back of the neck that can both effect and affect headaches, but it is essential that they be addressed in any headache situration that is not of tumor origin. These are deep muscles, and very short. They run up and down and at angles from the bottom of the back of your head to the first and second vertebrae, and from the first to the second vertebrae. If you have anybody work on these muscles, be sure to have the overlying muscles worked on for relaxation first so that it is easier on both you and the massager when it comes to the subcoccipital work. And the pressure of movement must always be from the head down (one of the rules of massage is for all pressure to go toward the heart). When you are ready, lie face up with a pillow under your knees. The massager cups the back of your head in both hands, with fingertips curved into the space just below the occiput (bone that forms the back of the head and curves under toward the vertebrae). Extending your neck (tilting your head back) very slightly so that your chin points more toward the ceiling may help the massager define that space. NOTE: There is evidence that too great a degree of neck extension can impinge on blood vessels running through the holes in the vertebrae and cause strokes. Small-boned women past menopause are most frequently at risk for this. The massager stands or sits at your head, facing your feet, and stiffens the curved fingers and gently digs the fingertips into the muscular tissue at the center of the back of the neck, then pulls the hands apart, side-to-side, so that the fingertips cross over muscle fibers outward until they reach the bony prominences just behind the ears. These are called the mastoid processes. NOTE: Do not exert pressure between the bony prominence behind the ear and the ear itself. There is a short, pointed piece of bone there and pressure on it can be painful and potentially damaging. The massager may repeat the described motions two or three times, slowly. Four times in all should be sufficient to cause relaxation in the uppermost suboccipital muscles and not cause soreness there, later. The massager can then cover the same area, from one mastoid process to the other, using short (1-inch), slow, downward stokes, keeping the pressure in the muscular space just below the occiput. You might rest, afterward, or move gently around. If you "test drive" your neck, DO NOT do backward neck rolls. I have a dandy routine for simple headaches or just to brighten someone up if you're interested. I'm sure you have explored the internet for information on headaches. If not, go to www.yahoo.com and type in "headache" as your search term. Deanne Charlton [log in to unmask]