NCT03385889

Effects of Cervical Manual Therapy on Cervicogenic Headache

Effects of Cervical Spine Manual Therapy on Range of Motion, Joint Position Sense, and Balance in Participants With Cervicogenic Headache

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 35 (actual)
• Sponsor: Shenandoah University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The effects of cervical spine manual therapy, including mobilization and manipulation, on cervical spine range of motion, joint position sense, and balance is unknown among individuals with cervicogenic headache. Previous studies have indicated improved frequency of headache, decreased perceived disability, and demonstrated improved neuromuscular function following upper cervical manipulation. Other authors report improved cervical spine range of motion, joint position sense, and balance following cervical spine manual therapy for individuals with cervicogenic dizziness. Through an experimental design, this study aims to determine the effects of cervical spine manual therapy on variables such as cervical spine range motion, joint position sense, and balance among individuals with headache of a cervical spine origin.

Detailed description

A convenience sample will be utilized to obtain subjects who suffer from cervicogenic headaches, as defined by the International Headache Classification. Subjects will be given an online medical screening questionnaire to differentiate and screen additional types of headache symptoms (migraine, cluster, tension-type, for example) and identify possible contraindications for manual therapy treatment techniques and exclude individuals if necessary. Subjects will be randomized into one of three groups (upper cervical mobilization, upper cervical manipulation, or control) and be tested with the Cervical Flexion Rotation Test, Joint Position Error testing, and sensorimotor balance testing via NeuroCom Balance Master. Subjects with cervicogenic headaches will receive their assigned intervention and dependent variables will be reassessed immediately, as well as 4-weeks after initial intervention. Individuals in either intervention group (mobilization or manipulation) will also complete a specific home-exercise program, which has been reported to improve upper cervical range of motion, to the C1/2 segment.

Conditions

• Unilateral Headache
• Musculoskeletal Neck Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Cervical Spine Mobilization	C1/2 graded mobilizations (Grade III/IV) provided to C1/2 segment on ipsilateral side of unilateral headache. Mobilizations will be completed for 3 sets of 30 seconds.
PROCEDURE	Cervical Spine Manipulation	C1/2 manipulation (Grade V) provided to C1/2 segment on ipsilateral side of unilateral headache. The goal of the manipulation technique is to elicit an audible cavitation. If no cavitation is achieved upon the first attempt, a second and final attempt will be completed. No more than two attempts will be utilized per each subject in this allocated group.

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-02-15
• Primary completion: 2018-05-15
• Completion: 2019-01-01
• First posted: 2017-12-29
• Last updated: 2019-04-04

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States