The most frequent kind of primary headache is tension headache, often known as stress headache or tension-type headache (TTH). The pain usually affects both sides of the head and might extend from the lower back of the head, the neck, the eyes, or other muscle groups in the body. Nearly 90 percent of all headaches are tension-type headaches causing a debilitating effect on job productibility and overall quality of life. The aim of the study will be to compare the effects of spinal mobilizations comprising Mulligan's headache SNAGs and Maitland's PA glide with the myofascial release technique on pain and disability in patients with tension-type headache.
A Randomized Clinical Trial will be conducted at FMH Physiotherapy Clinic, NUR International Physical Therapy clinic and Boston Physiotherapy Clinic Lahore through consecutive sampling technique on 34 patients which will be allocated using simple random sampling through sealed opaque envelopes into Group A and Group B. Group A will be treated with Spinal Mobilizations comprising Mulligan's headache SNAGs and Maitland's PA glide and Group B will be treated with Myofascial release technique. Outcome measures tools will be conducted through NPRS, Headache disability Index, Headache impact test (HIT-6). Data will be analyzed using SPSS software version 25. After assessing normality of data by Shapiro-wilk test, it will be decided either parametric or non-parametric test will be used within a group or between two groups
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
34
1. Headache SNAG: A posteroanterior mobilization of the second cervical vertebrae is sustained for 10 to 30 s with the aim to reduce headache intensity at the time of application. (6) 2. Maitland's C1-C7 PA Glide: A posteroanterior (PA) mobilization of the first till seventh cervical vertebra is achieved by applying a force on to a vertebral segment in a posteroanterior direction (Back to front). The patients will receive Spinal Mobilizations consisting of 1 set of 6 repetitions once daily thrice per week for four weeks. Pre and post intervention values will be taken on 1st day and after 4 weeks
Suboccipital Inhibition Technique: While the patient will be in the supine position, the physician sitting at the top end of the table will place the fingers of both hands on the patient's suboccipital region. Flexi-perpendicular long fingers exerting an inhibitory pressure on the muscle insertions of the neck extensors in the occiput, perpendicularly to muscle fibers, while the thumbs counterbalance the head against rotation. A deep and progressive pressure would be applied perpendicular to the fibers until a decrease in muscle tone would be detected. This deep and progressive pressure would be maintained for a total of 10 min until release of suboccipital tissues is achieved. The patients will receive myofascial release with the frequency of 1 set and 10 repetitions once a day three times per week for four weeks. Pre and post intervention values will be taken on 1st day and after 4 weeks.
NUR International University
Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
International Classification of Headache Disorders Criteria (ICHD-3 beta)
It is used for diagnosis of the tension type headache and has following specifications: The pain should be bilateral, pressing and tightening pain, having a mild-moderate intensity \[≤7.0 on a visual analog scale (VAS)\] and there should be no increase in pain with physical activity. The patients should not have phonophobia, nausea, vomiting or photophobia. Headache should last between 30 minutes and 7 days
Time frame: 4 weeks
Numeric pain rate scale (NPRS)
Patient level of pain will be assessed using this scale. This scale ranges from 0 to 10. 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst pain"
Time frame: 4 weeks
Headache Disability Index Questionnaire
To quantify the impact of headache on daily living, a 25-item headache disability inventory (HDI) will be used. Each requiring a "yes" (four points), "sometimes" (two points), or "no" (zero points) response based on items derived empirically from case history responses of subjects with headache. Items are sub grouped into functional and emotional subscales
Time frame: 4 weeks
Headache Impact Test (HIT-6)
The HIT-6 is a 6-item screening instrument used to quantify headache. It assesses the effects of headaches on daily life activities. This questionnaire has 6 questions, with a maximum number of points of 6\*13 (78). A total score of 36 means best and 78 means worst in terms of headache. Scores above 50 are "high".
Time frame: 4 weeks
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