Exercise and Manipulative Therapy for Older Persons With Headache

Chiang Mai University65 enrolled

Overview

The presence of cervical musculoskeletal impairment is not specific to cervicogenic headache but other various frequent intermittent headache types (i.e. migraine and tension-type headache) in the elderly population. There has been no trial to date which has investigated the effectiveness of physiotherapy treatment specifically for older persons with various types of headache with associated neck pain and cervical musculoskeletal impairment. Thus, the purpose of study investigate the efficacy of physiotherapy treatment for older persons who have headache concomitant with neck pain and musculoskeletal impairment

Headache is a common health problem that affects quality of life in an older population and imposes substantial economic costs. Headache changes with age. Features of headache become less typical and neck pain is more frequently associated with headache in older persons. We recently demonstrated that the presence of cervical musculoskeletal impairment is not specific to cervicogenic headache (headache caused by the neck). Rather it was present in various frequent intermittent headache types in elders when compared to elders without headache. Changes in headache characteristics with age play an important role not only in diagnosis but also in treatment choice. Impairment in cervical musculoskeletal function found in older persons with headache has implications for headache management choices as the evidence indicates that physiotherapy management methods such as manual therapy and therapeutic exercise are an effective management approach for headache associated with the neck. Physiotherapy treatment would be a safe therapeutic option and may have a beneficial effect for elders with headache who have neck pain and concomitant cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction. This is particularly relevant as there are widespread concerns about medication overuse, adverse drug events and drug interactions in older persons. The effective management of older persons with headache in particular of those with atypical features of headache remains a challenge. Physiotherapy is indicated in those older persons diagnosed with cervicogenic headache but could also be adjunct treatment for those with cervical musculoskeletal signs who are suspected of having transitional headache. At present, there has been no trial to date which has investigated the effectiveness of physiotherapy treatment specifically for older persons with various types of headache with associated neck pain and cervical musculoskeletal impairment. A clinical trial of treatment of cervical musculoskeletal impairment in older persons with various headache types may help guide management of headache in attempts to lesson medication use and cost in this population. Physiotherapy management may be a worthy treatment option particularly in older persons with headache who do not respond well to medication.

Conditions

Headache

Interventions

Usual care interventionOTHER

The usual care intervention will include appropriate primary care as required including medication

Physiotherapy treatmentOTHER

Exercise and manipulative therapy treatment for 10 weeks:The treatment intervention consists of two visits per week for the first four weeks (8 treatments) and one visit per week for the last six weeks (6 treatments)

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 50 YearsMax age: 75 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Volunteers suffering from frequent intermittent headache (either migraine, tension-type headache or cervicogenic headache) at least one per month over a period of 3 months or longer * Aged 50 years or older, female or male * A score of ≥ 3/10 on visual analogue scale (VAS) of neck pain * Evidence of cervical musculoskeletal impairment: restriction in active range of cervical motion in extension and rotation and join tenderness in at least one of the upper joint as detected by manual palpation Exclusion Criteria: * Headache diagnosed as following: temporal arteritis, trigeminal neuralgia, cluster headache, chronic paroxysmal hemicrania/hemicranias continua, temporomandibular joint dysfunction * Other diagnosed disorders: cerebrovascular disease, Parkinson disease, cognitive disturbance * Previous history of head or neck surgery * Lack of willingness to receive either pragmatic treatment or usual care * Physiotherapy or chiropractic treatment for headache in previous 6 months

Locations (1)

Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Headache frequency

The number of headache frequency in the past week

Time frame: Change from baseline in headache frequency at week 11 and 6 months after intervention

Secondary Outcomes

Headache intensity

An average intensity in the past week will be rated on a 1-10 VAS

Time frame: Change from baseline in headache intensity at week 11 and 6 months after intervention

Headache duration

The number of hours of headache in the past week

Time frame: Change from baseline in headache duration at week 11 and 6 months after intervention

Neck pain intensity

Intensity of neck pain will be measured using a 1-10 VAS

Time frame: Change from baseline in neck pain intensity at week 11 and 6 months after intervention

Neck pain and disability

Neck pain and disability will be measured using neck disability index (NDI-Thai version)

Time frame: Change from baseline in neck pain and disability at week 11 and 6 months after intervention

Quality of life

The Quality of life will be measured using SF-36 (Thai version)

Time frame: Change from baseline in quality of life at week 11 and 6 months after intervention

Medication intake

type and dose of all medications taken by subjects will be recorded one week at baseline and prior to follow-up points on a medication diary

Time frame: Change from baseline in medication intake at week 11 and 6 months after intervention

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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