Clinical Effects of Upper Cervical Translatoric Mobilization in Patients With Headache

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Headache
• Interventions: Other: UC-TSM

• Registration Number: NCT02422862
• Lead Sponsor: Universidad de Zaragoza

Brief Summary

Frequently, headache is associated with disorders of the cervical spine, specially on the upper cervical spine. Therefore, restoration of the upper cervical mobility is considered fundamental for the treatment of headache.

Manual therapy interventions seek to restore upper cervical mobility through a wide range of therapeutic procedures, including mobilization or manipulation techniques. Previous systematic reviews reported preliminary evidence for the application of upper cervical manual therapy techniques for the management of headache.

The objective of this study is to study the effects of upper cervical translatoric spinal mobilization (UC-TSM) on headache intensity, cervical mobility and pressure pain threshold in subjects with headache. For this purpose, the investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial. Volunteers with headache will participate in the study and will be randomly divided into control or treatment group. Treatment group will receive UC-TSM and the control group will receive no treatment.

Headache intensity, cervical mobility, temporomandibular mobility and pressure pain thresholds (PPT) will be measured before and immediately after each treatment session (3 treatment sessions in one week period) and after one month follow-up. At this moment, global perceived effect will be assessed.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2014-01
• Study First Submitted: 2015-04-13
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-04-16
• Study First Posted: 2015-04-21
• Primary Completion: 2015-08
• Study Completion: 2016-01
• Status Verified: 2016-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-02-25
• Last Update Posted: 2016-02-26

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 162

Inclusion Criteria

• Present a history of headache.

Exclusion Criteria

• Receive cervical treatment in the previous month.
• Present red flags for headache.
• Present any contraindications to manual therapy.
• Current involvement in compensations.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
UC-TSM	UC-TSM	Upper cervical translatoric spinal mobilization (UC-TSM). UC-TSM is a physical therapy technique used to improve range of movement, consisting on a manual stretching of the cervical spine of the patient during 30 minutes.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Headache intensity as measured by Visual Analog Scale	From Baseline to one month follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cervical mobility as measured by cervical range of motion device (CROM)	1 minute Pre-Intervention, 1 minute Post-Intervention, One month follow-up
Pressure pain threshold as measured by digital algometer (Somedic Farsta)	1 minute Pre-Intervention, 1 minute Post-Intervention, One month follow-up
Temporomandibular joint mobility as measured by digital calipher (mouth opening)	1 minute Pre-Intervention, 1 minute Post-Intervention, One month follow-up
Global Perceived Effect as measured by Global Perceived Effect Scale (-5 to +5 Likert Scale)	One month follow-up
Immediate headache intensity changes as measured by Visual Analog Scale	1 minute Pre-Intervention, 1 minute Post-Intervention

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Unidad de Investigación en Fisioterapia; 🇪🇸 Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain