Abstract
M.Tech.
The primary aim of this investigation was to evaluate the possible effectiveness of a
cervical support pillow in combination with cervical spine manipulation versus cervical
spine manipulation alone, in the management of cervicogenic headache.
The secondary aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of a cervical support pillow
(Top Pillow) to the efficacy of the cervical support pillow used by Ross (2002) in the
management of cervicogenic headache.
During this study, thirty participants were recruited. The participants were divided into
three groups of ten each. The three groups received the following treatments over a 3
week period:
• Group one only received chiropractic cervical adjustments
• Group two received a cervical support pillow and chiropractic cervical
adjustments
• Group three received only a cervical support pillow.
After the treatment was concluded the recorded data was submitted to the staff at
STATKON where the data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social
Sciences.
The results of the clinical trial revealed that the group that received chiropractic
manipulation and the cervical support pillow showed the most significant changes of all
three the groups in all planes of cervical range of motion, with all the results being
statistically significant.
The group that only received chiropractic manipulation also exhibited a significant
increase in all planes of cervical range of motion, with only extension not being
statistically significant.
The group that only received a cervical support pillow, revealed a statistically significant
increase in almost all planes of cervical range of motion except for flexion where no
increase was noted the increases were, however, still markedly less than those of the
former two groups that received chiropractic adjustments to specific restricted motion
segments.
With regard to perceived pain measured on the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, the two
groups that received chiropractic adjustments improved to a much greater degree than the
group that only received a cervical support pillow.
With regard to Vernon-Mior Neck Pain and Disability Index all three groups had a
statistically significant decrease in the perception of disability although the adjustment
groups once again showed a much greater decrease in disability than the pillow only
group.
The already proven benefits that patients with cervicogenic headache receive from
chiropractic spinal manipulation, can be successfully supplemented by the use of a
cervical support pillow and the top pillow performed better than the pillow used by Ross
et al. (2002) in the treatment of cervicogenic headache.