NCT01736774

Exercise and Manipulative Therapy for Older Persons With Headache

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Exercise and Manipulative Therapy for Older Persons With Frequent Intermittent Headaches Associated With Neck Pain and Impairment

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 65 (actual)
• Sponsor: Chiang Mai University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 50 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The presence of cervical musculoskeletal impairment is not specific to cervicogenic headache but other various frequent intermittent headache types (i.e. migraine and tension-type headache) in the elderly population. There has been no trial to date which has investigated the effectiveness of physiotherapy treatment specifically for older persons with various types of headache with associated neck pain and cervical musculoskeletal impairment. Thus, the purpose of study investigate the efficacy of physiotherapy treatment for older persons who have headache concomitant with neck pain and musculoskeletal impairment

Detailed description

Headache is a common health problem that affects quality of life in an older population and imposes substantial economic costs. Headache changes with age. Features of headache become less typical and neck pain is more frequently associated with headache in older persons. We recently demonstrated that the presence of cervical musculoskeletal impairment is not specific to cervicogenic headache (headache caused by the neck). Rather it was present in various frequent intermittent headache types in elders when compared to elders without headache. Changes in headache characteristics with age play an important role not only in diagnosis but also in treatment choice. Impairment in cervical musculoskeletal function found in older persons with headache has implications for headache management choices as the evidence indicates that physiotherapy management methods such as manual therapy and therapeutic exercise are an effective management approach for headache associated with the neck. Physiotherapy treatment would be a safe therapeutic option and may have a beneficial effect for elders with headache who have neck pain and concomitant cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction. This is particularly relevant as there are widespread concerns about medication overuse, adverse drug events and drug interactions in older persons. The effective management of older persons with headache in particular of those with atypical features of headache remains a challenge. Physiotherapy is indicated in those older persons diagnosed with cervicogenic headache but could also be adjunct treatment for those with cervical musculoskeletal signs who are suspected of having transitional headache. At present, there has been no trial to date which has investigated the effectiveness of physiotherapy treatment specifically for older persons with various types of headache with associated neck pain and cervical musculoskeletal impairment. A clinical trial of treatment of cervical musculoskeletal impairment in older persons with various headache types may help guide management of headache in attempts to lesson medication use and cost in this population. Physiotherapy management may be a worthy treatment option particularly in older persons with headache who do not respond well to medication.

Conditions

• Headache

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Usual care intervention	The usual care intervention will include appropriate primary care as required including medication
OTHER	Physiotherapy treatment	Exercise and manipulative therapy treatment for 10 weeks:The treatment intervention consists of two visits per week for the first four weeks (8 treatments) and one visit per week for the last six weeks (6 treatments)

Timeline

• Start date: 2012-12-01
• Primary completion: 2014-12-01
• Completion: 2015-07-01
• First posted: 2012-11-29
• Last updated: 2016-01-28

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Thailand