Comparison of Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Cervical Joint Mobilization and Exercise Therapy on Pain, Range Of Motion, and Cervical Movement Control in Chronic Cervicogenic Headache Patients
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Abstract
Background: Mobilization and Exercise are the most common treatments for cervicogenic headaches. Duration of treatment in each intervention is very varied. From short sessions of passive treatments to several weeks and even monthly sessions of exercise therapy are recommended. Therefore, this study was aimed to comparison of short-term and long-term effects of cervical joint mobilization and exercise therapy on pain, range of motion, and cervical movement control in Chronic Cervicogenic Headache patients.
Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial. Twenty-six patients aged between 18 and 45 years and in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups: mobilization and exercise group. Twelve treatment sessions in four weeks were performed. Pain intensity, Headache Disability Index, craniocervical flexion test, cervical range of motion were measured before, middle, and after treatment by VAS, questionnaire, pressure biofeedback and OptiTrack motion analyzers, respectively. Data analyzed by ANOVA repeated measurement test.
Result: In mobilization group, changes of pain intensity in short term was 2.19±1.6 and long term was 2.61±1.4 (p=0.00). Also, in exercise group, changes of pain intensity in short term were 3.26±1.8 and long term was 1.23±0.7 (p=0.00). In short term, craniocervical flexion test changed 18.7±16.5 grades in mobilization group and changed 28.1±18.5 grades in exercise group (p=0.00). Range of motion in upper cervical significantly changed in short term and long term after mobilization intervention (p=0.00).
Conclusion: This result support that the active exercise is more effective in increasing of upper cervical motor control, cervical ROM and pain symptom in short term. The mobilization is more benefit in upper cervical mobility than exercise training in short term and long term.