Dry Needling for Cervicogenic Headache

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Headache
• Interventions: Other: Dry Needling; Other: Sham Dry Needling

• Registration Number: NCT05140291
• Lead Sponsor: Youngstown State University

Brief Summary

Currently, it is unknown if dry needling when performed to the trigeminal innervation field improves neck pain and or headache for patients with cervicogenic headaches. The aim of this study is to determine if dry needling of the trigeminal innervation field improves pain, pain-pressure thresholds, and neck mobility in patients with cervicogenic headaches, with or without migraine.

Detailed Description

Dry needling is a widely used intervention performed by physical therapists for a wide range of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. Dry needling has been shown to be beneficial for cervicogenic headaches but treatment is typically applied to the neck. It is well-established that cervical pain can upregulate the trigeminal nerve and vice versa in various forms of headaches. Thus, it is plausable that reducing inflammation and irritation of the trigeminal nerve may in fact reduce neck pain and impairments. This study aims to look investigate whether dry needling the trigeminal innervation field will reduce pain and impairments known to exist in patients with cervicogenic headaches compared to a sham comparator. The study is a pilot trial for a larger RCT and will look at immediate effects only.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-10-29
• Status Verified: 2021-11
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-11-24
• Study First Posted: 2021-12-01
• Study Start: 2021-12-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-12-20
• Last Update Posted: 2022-01-11
• Primary Completion: 2022-04-30
• Study Completion: 2022-04-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged 18 or older
• Symptoms: (1)Unilateral pain starting in the neck and radiating to the frontotemporal region or posterior fossa, (2) pain aggravated by neck movement, (3) restricted cervical range of motion, (4) non-throbbing and non-lancinatingnpain, 5) dysfunction/headache pain in at least one of the joints of the upper cervical spine(C0-C4), and (6) headache frequency of at least 1 per week over a period greater than 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria

• Pain <2/10
• Contraindications to the interventions
• Whiplash associated disorder within 6 weeks
• Pending litigation for neck pain and/or headache.

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Dry needling	Dry Needling	Experimental Group
Sham Needling	Sham Dry Needling	Sham Group

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Headache or neck pain intensity on a Numeric pain rating scale (0-10)	<1 hour	0-10 scale pain intensity

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Flexion-rotation test in degrees of measurement	<1 hour	Flexion-rotation test for CGH will be measured to determine any change in measure for c1-c2 mobility.
Pain-pressure threshold in lbs of pressure	<1 hour	Pain-pressure threshold will be measured using an algometer at the innervation zones of the trigeminal nerve and the upper cervical spine.
Active Range of Motion of the Cervical Spine in degrees of measurement	<1 hour	Active range of motion will be measured in the most painful and or limited plane of movement.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Youngstown State University; 🇺🇸 Youngstown, Ohio, United States