Effects of Craniocervical Flexion Training on Headache Frequency, Intensity, and Functional Disability in Patients With Migraine

Migraine along with tension-type headache and cluster-headache are three major types of primary headaches. Through the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, headache disorders are revealed as one of the major public-health concerns globally in all countries and world regions. In the 2019 iteration (GBD2019), migraine alone was second among the causes of disability, and first among women under 50 years of age. The data indicated that the worldwide prevalence of migraine was approximately 14.0% (8.6% in males, 17.0% in females), while tension-type headache (TTH) had a prevalence of 26.0% (23.4% in males, 27.1% in females). The International Classification of Headache Disorders version 3 (ICHD-3) defines primary headache as a headache disorder not caused by or attributed to another disorder. Primary headaches are disorders by themselves. They are caused by independent Patho-mechanisms and not by other disorders. Using economic loss due to migraine and working population data from the Statistics Bureau of Japan, the annual economic loss due to presenteeism is US $3.3 billion, calculated from the number of days when work efficiency has fallen to less than half due to headaches using Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire (MIDAS).

The pharmacological approach is one of the first-line treatments within the international guidelines for treating primary headaches. The main classes of drugs to treat migraine headaches include: Beta-blockers, Anticonvulsants, Antidepressants, and other prophylactic medications. Medication overuse cause a significant bad effect to those with primary headaches, potentially leading to a shift from episodic headache attacks to chronic headache episodes. Therefore, guidelines already implement nonpharmacological modalities in the management of primary headaches as main treatments within the physical therapy practice. Manual Therapy is one of the most common nonpharmacological treatments used for the management of common recurrent headaches.

Limited research exists on physical therapy for treating migraines, but it can still offer benefits. Migraine sufferers may experience tender peri-cranial muscles and altered muscle tone and cervical dysfunction between episodes. Physical therapy interventions, including manual therapy, targeted exercises, education, and modalities, can help reduce attack frequency, onset, and intensity. There are many MT interventions available for headache disorders which are mostly applied on cervical region. A study on the treatment of neck pain for migraine patients showed better response to physiotherapy as compared to aerobic exercises.

The prevalence of migraines globally, as indicated by the Global Burden of Disease study, underscores the urgent need for effective interventions. Migraine not only ranks among the leading causes of disability but also imposes a substantial economic burden. Current pharmacological approaches, while commonly employed, carry the risk of medication overuse and the transition from episodic to chronic headaches. Recognizing the limitations of pharmacotherapy, nonpharmacological modalities, particularly exercise physiotherapy and manual therapy (MT), emerge as promising avenues for managing migraines. Although research on physical therapy for migraines is limited, its potential benefits, such as addressing peri-cranial muscle tenderness and cervical dysfunction, make it a valuable area of exploration. This research seeks to evaluate the efficacy of a novel CCFT am within the context of manual therapy, providing insights into its impact on migraine frequency, onset, and intensity.