Abstract
M.Tech.
Purpose: Acupuncture has been a controversial issue in the medical world for many years before the sceptic western medicine slowly adopted its idea. Some mechanisms for pain relief were clinically researched and proven to be valid as well as effective in treating tension-type headaches (Stux, Berman and Pomerantz, 2003)
The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the effects of cervical spine manipulation and needling of acupuncture points in those patients with tension-type headache and suggest another complimentary treatment to the chiropractic manipulation, especially in those patients where manipulation is contraindicated to manipulation. If found to be effective, various mechanisms have been suggested in the formation of tension headache episodes. Those mechanisms may be alterations within the spinal cord and/or brainstem gating mechanisms as a result of facet joint dysfunction, sensitization of nociceptors in the peripheral structures of the body and psychological factors.
Method: This study consisted of two groups, consisting of 16 subjects in each group. All participants were screened for tension-type headaches and accepted based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The subjects were between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five. Group 1 received chiropractic manipulation treatment to the most restricted levels in their cervical spine. Group 2 received treatment consisting of needling of acupuncture points to specific predetermined points.
Procedure: Each successful candidate was treated six times over a 3 week period which included a total of seven sessions. Before the beginning of the treatment, the successful candidate completed the Vernon-Mior Neck Pain and Disability Index Questionnaire and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale.
Readings for cervical spine ranges of motion were then taken with a CROM device. In group 1, chiropractic manipulation was then delivered to the most restricted segments in the cervical spine. In group 2, needling of six predetermined acupuncture points for relieving tension-type headache was performed bilaterally. The same treatment procedure was administered at sessions one through six, the CROM readings and questionnaires were taken in sessions one, three, five and seven.
Results: The results were obtained by using the Mann-Whitney U and t-test. No statistically significant differences were identified between the groups, when comparing the 2 treatment methods at the visits. However, both groups showed a statistically significant improvement over time within each group individually for subjective measurements and for right lateral flexion in the objective measurements.
Conclusion: The results were inconclusive with regards to the prolonged effects of chiropractic manipulation and needling of acupuncture points on cervical spine range of motion in patients with tension-type headache. However, it was concluded that both methods of treatment had beneficial effects on how the participants perceived their pain and disability. Due to the small group of subjects and relatively short duration of the study, accurate conclusions could not be formulated. The findings obtained were insignificant and further research needs to be performed on the effects of cervical spine manipulation and needling of acupuncture points on those suffering with tension-type headache.