Headache is a common health problem. The most common headaches worldwide are migraine, tension-type headache (TTH), and cervicogenic headache (CGH). Due to the close anatomical relationship between the head and the cervical region, neck pain accompanies these headaches. The effects of cervical stabilization training including all of the cervical regions, thoracic regions, and the upper extremities in individuals with headaches are not yet known.
Headache is a common health problem. The most common headaches worldwide are migraine, tension-type headache (TTH), and cervicogenic headache (CGH). Due to the close anatomical relationship between the head and the cervical region, neck pain accompanies these headaches. Most of the previous studies examined the effects of exercise programs such as Cranio-Cervical Flexion Exercises (CCFE), posture exercises, muscle strengthening, and stretching exercises of the neck and shoulder on headaches. These studies presented the beneficial effects of CCFE which mostly targeted strengthening the superficial neck and shoulder muscles. However, the effects of cervical stabilization training including all of the cervical regions, thoracic regions, and the upper extremities in individuals with headaches are not yet known.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
90
Patients learned the activation of deep cervical flexor and extensor muscles. Then, during the activity of deep cervical muscles, superficial cervical muscles and upper extremity muscles were also strengthened. Thus, it was aimed to strengthen all neck muscles and upper extremity muscles in different positions synchronously and to increase their endurance.
Gazi University
Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)
Pain intensity assessed by the VAS
The average headache severity and neck pain severity in the last month was also assessed by using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is one of the pain rating scales. A VAS consists of a line, often 10 cm long, with verbal anchors at either end (e.g., "no pain" on the far left and "the most intense pain imaginable" on the far right). The patient places a mark at a point on the line corresponding to the patient's rating of pain intensity.
Time frame: Eight weeks
Forward head posture assessed by the craniovertebral angle
To evaluate the cervical posture, pictures were taken from the side to objectively measure the forward head posture. Patients were asked to stand straight and then relax while the camera was placed at shoulder level. After printing the pictures, the craniovertebral angle was measured to represent the degree of forward head posture. This angle was calculated by measuring the angle between a horizontal line drawn through the 7th cervical vertebra and a line connecting the tragus of the ear and C7 spinous process.
Time frame: Eight weeks
Deep cervical flexor muscles strength assessed by the stabilizer pressure biofeedback
Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test : To begin the test, the patient is lying on a table in a supine position with their neck in a neutral position. A biofeedback stabilizer device is then placed under the patient's neck to rest against the occiput and inflated to a baseline pressure of 20 mmHg. During the test, the patient is asked to close their mouth with a slight gap between their jaws and place their tongue on the upper palate. They are then instructed to nod their head as if saying "yes." In the first stage of the test, the patient is asked to increase the pressure by 2 mmHg and maintain this position at 22 mmHg for 10 seconds. The patient is then asked to relax. In subsequent stages of the test, the pressure is reset to the initial pressure of 20 mmHg, and the patient is asked to perform the same head movement for 10 repetitions to create a pressure of 4, 6, 8, and 10 mmHg, respectively, and maintain the pressure for 10 seconds in each movement.
Time frame: Eight weeks
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Endurance of cervical muscles assessed by the chronometer
During the endurance test of cervical flexors, the patient is lying supıne position with the therapist's hand placed under their head. They are then asked to bring their chin closer to their chest, lifting their head about 2.5 cm and holding that position. The time they are able to maintain the position is recorded in seconds. During the endurance test of cervical extensors, the patient is lying down with their heads bent downwards and their heads and chest hanging over the bed, with a 2-kg sandbag placed on the back of their necks. They are then asked to lift their heads to a neutral position and hold their position. The time they are able to maintain the position is recorded in seconds.
Time frame: Eight weeks
Cervical joint range of motion assessed by the cervical range of motion instrument
The cervical joint range of motion was evaluated with a cervical joint range of motion measuring device. Active range of motion was measured in cervical flexion, extension, right rotation, left rotation, right lateral flexion, and left lateral flexion. Joint range of motion measurements were measured while the patient was sitting normally in an armless chair with a backrest.
Time frame: Eight weeks
Disability level (headache) assessed by migraine disability rating scale
Migraine Disability Rating Scale: The Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire is a tool used to measure the impact of migraines on a person's daily life. It is a self-reported measure that assesses how much a person's headaches have affected their ability to perform daily activities, such as work, household chores, or social activities, over the past three months. The MIDAS questionnaire consists of five questions, with scores ranging from 0 to 270, and a higher score indicating a greater impact of migraine on daily activities. The Migraine Disability Rating Scale (MIDAS) can be used to classify the severity of a person's migraines into one of four categories: Grade I: Little or no disability, with a MIDAS score of 0-5. Grade II: Mild to moderate disability, with a MIDAS score of 6-10. Grade III: Moderate to severe disability, with a MIDAS score of 11-20. Grade IV: Severe disability, with a MIDAS score of more than 20.
Time frame: Eight weeks
Disability level (neck pain) assessed by the neck disability index
The Neck Disability Index (NDI): is a questionnaire that assesses the level of disability experienced by a person with neck pain. It was developed to measure the impact of neck pain on a person's ability to perform daily activities and to provide a standardized way of assessing disability due to neck pain. The NDI consists of 10 questions, each addressing a different aspect of daily life. The questions cover areas such as pain intensity, personal care, lifting, reading, headaches, concentration, work, driving, sleeping, and recreation. The patient rates their level of disability for each question on a scale of 0 to 5, with 0 indicating no disability and 5 indicating complete disability. The scores for each question are then totaled. The maximum score is 50. The obtained score can be multiplied by 2 to produce a percentage score. Scoring intervals for interpretation, as follows: 0 - 4 = no disability 5 - 14 = mild 15 - 24 = moderate 25 - 34 = severe above 34 = complete.
Time frame: Eight weeks
Health-related quality of life assessed by the short form 36 quality of life scale
The Short Form 36 Quality of Life Scale (SF-36): is a self-reported questionnaire used to assess an individual's overall health-related quality of life. It includes 36 questions and covers eight domains: physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health, bodily pain, general health perceptions, vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, and mental health. To score the SF-36, scales are standardized with a scoring algorithm to obtain a score ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better health status and a mean score of 50 has been articulated as a normative value for all scales.
Time frame: Eight weeks
Sleep quality assessed by the Pittsburgh sleep quality index
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI): is a self-reported questionnaire that assesses an individual's sleep quality and disturbances over a one-month time period. The questionnaire consists of 19 questions that are grouped into seven categories: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping medication, and daytime dysfunction. Each category is scored on a scale of 0 to 3, with 3 indicating the greatest sleep disturbance. The seven category scores are then summed to produce a global PSQI score, which ranges from 0 to 21. A score of 5 or greater indicates poor sleep quality, while a score of 8 or greater is considered a severe sleep disturbance. The PSQI has been used in research studies and clinical settings to evaluate sleep quality and to identify individuals who may benefit from interventions to improve their sleep.
Time frame: Eight weeks
Mood assessed by the Beck depression inventory
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI): is a self-report questionnaire that measures the severity of depression in individuals. The BDI consists of 21 questions or items, each of which has four possible responses. The questions cover a range of symptoms commonly associated with depression, such as sadness, loss of interest in activities, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, changes in appetite or sleep, and thoughts of self-harm. The responses are scored on a scale from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating more severe depression. The total score ranges from 0 to 63, with scores of 0-9 indicating minimal depression, scores of 10-18 indicating mild depression, scores of 19-29 indicating moderate depression, and scores of 30 or higher indicating severe depression.
Time frame: Eight weeks