Vol. 8, Issue 10, Part B (2022)

Background and Objectives: Cervicogenic headache, accounting for 4%-22% of all the clinical headaches, is associated with considerable disability and decline in the quality of life. Multifaceted approach needs to successful management but its acute rehabilitation physical and manual modes of therapy have been validated as important therapeutic modalities. Though certain studies have suggested the beneficial effects of combining craniocervical training program and manipulative therapy for the long-term prevention and control of headaches, there is no conclusive evidence to validate the findings. The present study was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of craniocervical training and manipulative therapy in patients with cervicogenic headache as individual and combined management strategies.

Materials and Methods: Multi-center, randomized prospective comparative study was conducted and 120 patients mean age group 25-40 were included in the study. Based on study criteria’s patients were randomly allocated into 4 groups, comprising of 30 patients, as given below: Patients in Group1: receiving craniocervical training program, Group2: undergoing a manipulative therapy, Group3: undergoing a combination of craniocervical training and manipulative therapy and Group 4:(control group)not receiving any treatment. The patients were assessed for pain intensity, disability of neck and headache intensity using VAS scale, NDI, and the HFHDI respectively.

Results: A significant difference in the pre, post and one-month post training mean VAS scores was noted in group3. The comparison of the pre-training VAS scores for all the study groups showed that the control/no training group had the highest mean VAS score. The highest mean one-month post-training VAS score was noted in the group3, compared to all other groups. In group 3 more reduced HDI post training and one-month post training than the other groups. In group3 and group2 Patients had reduced NDI post training. However, it was comparatively higher than group 1.

Conclusion: Craniocervical training, manipulative therapy, and combination of both are effective for the long-term management of cervicogenic headache. Combined therapy group demonstrated significant effect in patient-reported outcomes with respect to the three scores- VAS, NDI and HDI.