Abstract
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)
Cervicogenic Headache is a common musculoskeletal disorder afflicting people
worldwide. It causes decreased productivity and mild to severe disability and thus
has a large socio-economic impact on society. Much research is needed to improve
the successful management of patients afflicted with this disorder. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of spinal manipulation alone and spinal manipulation in conjunction with cervical stabilization exercises in the treatment of cervicogenic headache. Thirty eligible participants conforming to the North American Cervicogenic Headache Society classification of cervicogenic headache were solicited and randomly assigned to two groups of fifteen. Group 1 received spinal manipulative
therapy to the full spine. Group 2 received spinal manipulative therapy to the full
spine as well as cervical stabilization exercises. Patients were treated eight times over a four-week period with a six-week follow-up consultation thereafter. Objective and subjective measurements were taken at. the first, fourth, eighth and six-week follow-up consultations. Objective measurements consisted of cervical spine range of motion measurements. Subjective measures consisted of the Vernon-Mior neck pain and disability index and the numerical pain rating scale. Both groups displayed numerical improvements in all cervical spine ranges of motion. Both groups had statistically significant improvements in cervical spine right lateral flexion, while group 1 only had a statistically significant improvement in cervical spine left lateral flexion. Both groups displayed statistically significant improvements in the subjective measures. However, neither group had a statistically significant improvement over the other. It can be concluded that neither spinal manipulative therapy nor spinal manipulative therapy in conjunction with cervical stabilization exercises is more effective than the other. Thus rehabilitation of the cervicogenic headache patient yielded no measurable added benefit to spinal manipulative therapy only. However, results indicate that if more rigid or complex application of cervical spine stability training is incorporated, superior results may be achieved.