Manual Techniques in Cervicogenic Headache

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This project will explore the effect of deep friction massage and post isometric relaxation techniques in Cervicogenic headache. The population sample will be 20 divided randomly into two groups by Lottery method. Then i will collect data from central hospital, Gujranwala. One group will be treated with a deep friction massage technique thrice a week for 3 weeks. Another group will be treated with a post isometric relaxation technique thrice a week for 3 weeks. Both groups will receive a heating pad and neck isometric as baseline treatment. Baseline measurements are taken by an inclinometer. After a treatment plan, the group will be assessed again and post-treatment measured values will be compared with the pretest values. Subjects will be asked to come for follow-up after 4 weeks. The follow-up will show which technique is more effective in subjects having Cervicogenic headaches. Both the techniques used are non-invasive and having minimum side effects. This project will help Physical Therapy Practitioner to explore which technique is more useful to treat Cervicogenic headaches.

Detailed Description
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Cervicogenic headache is a relatively common and still controversial form of headache arising from structures in the neck. In patients with this disorder, attacks or chronic fluctuating periods of neck/head pain may be provoked by the sustained neck. The International Headache Society (IHS), 2013 defined Cervicogenic Headache (CGH) as a secondary headache, which implies that headache is caused by a disorder of the cervical spine and its components bony, disc, and soft tissue elements. CGH can be a perplexing pain disorder that is refractory to treatment if it is perceived. Patients with CGH exhibited decreases in the quality of life comparable to migraine patients and patients with tension-type headaches, with even lower scores for physical functioning. .Headache is a common disorder affecting up to 66% of the general population. headache negatively influences both quality of life and labor productivity.Cervicogenic headache is one of the common types of headache accounting for 0.4-15% of the headache population. we distinguished it from other types of headaches, such as a migraine, that may present with some common symptoms. The International Headache Society (IHS) classified CGH as a secondary headache arising from musculoskeletal disorders in the cervical spine. The complicated convergence of cervical afferents with trigeminal afferents in the trigemino-cervical complex is intended as the physiologic basis of a headache arising from cervical structures. The aim of friction massage is to take care of the quality at intervals the soft tissue structures of ligament, tendon, and muscle and stop adherent scars from forming. The massage is deep and should be applied transversally to the precise tissue concerned in contrast to the superficial massage given within the longitudinal direction parallel to the vessels which boosts circulation and come of fluid. Profound cervical flexor (DCF) has a noteworthy postural capacity in supporting and rectifying the cervical lordosis. It has been discovered that specific muscles in the cervical spine have a tendency to debilitate , the most widely recognized of these being the DCF. MET is a treatment technique that includes a willful constriction of a subject's muscle in a correctly controlled bearing, against a counterforce that is given by the specialist. MET is utilized to diminish the pain, extend the tight muscles and belts, decrease muscle tone, enhances nearby flow, strengthen the feeble musculature, and mobilizes the joint restrictions. MET increases the extensibility of muscles and spinal range of motion, treating patients with reduced mobility. Extending includes the use of manual or mechanical power to prolong/protract the structures that are adaptively been abbreviated and are hypomobile. Post-isometric relaxation (PIR) may be a technique typically employed by manual therapists for treating muscle tension and joint pathology in myofascial pain syndromes There is a lack of evidence demonstrating the efficacy of deep friction massage therapy in the management of cervicogenic headache, particularly targeting cervical muscle tightness related to Cervicogenic headache. The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of soft tissue massage with MET to access which technique has a greater clinical impact than others in improving cervicogenic headache.

Official Title
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Comparison of Deep Friction Massage and Post Isometric Relaxation Technique in Cervicogenic Headache

Conditions
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Cervicogenic Headache

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Deep Neck Flexor Massage
* Other: Post-Isometric Relaxation Technique


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Both genders. Symptoms duration more than 6 months. Age 18 -60 Patient has confirmed the diagnosis of cervicogenic headache Exclusion Criteria: Rule out cervical malignancy infection (such as osteomyelitis or diskitis) osteoporosis, inflammatory arthritis. fracture, pregnancy cord compression, uncontrolled hypertension cardiovascular disease in the setting of carotid or vertebral artery disease. Trauma cases

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Deep Neck Flexor Massage<br>INTERVENTIONAL GROUP(DEEP Neck FLEXOR MASSAGE) | Other: Deep Neck Flexor Massage<br>* Deep friction massage is a specific connective tissue massage that was given across the affected fibers.The therapist's fingers and patient's skin must move as one, otherwise moving subcutaneous fascia against muscle or ligament could lead to blister formation or subcutaneous bruising.The friction massage must have sufficient sweep and be deep enough.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Post-Isometric Relaxation Technique<br>CONTROL GROUP (POST-ISOMETRIC RELAXATION TECHNIQUE) | Other: Post-Isometric Relaxation Technique<br>* The PIR technique is performed as follows.The hypertonic muscle is taken to a length just short of pain, or to the point where resistance to movement is first noted.A submaximal (10-20%) contraction of the hypertonic muscle is performed away from the barrier for between 5 and 10 seconds and the therapist applies resistance in the opposite direction . The patient should inhale during this effort.After the isometric contraction the patient is asked to relax and exhale while doing so.Following this a gentle stretch is applied to take up the slack till the new barrier.Starting from this new barrier, the procedure is repeated two or three times.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Headache disability index | This scale is used to identify difficulties that you may be experiencing because of your headache. Please check off YES, SOMETIMES, or NO to each item. Proforma consist of 25 question Scoring The following responses are given the following values: Response Points Yes 4 Sometimes 2 No 0 Interpretation A 29 point change (95% confidence interval) or greater in the total score from test to retest must occur before the change can be attributed to treatment effects. | 3 week | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upper cervical spine(ROM) | standard technique for measuring cervical spine motions in different rotations, including sagittal, frontal, transversal, and rotational | 3 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Cervicogenic headache (CH, CGH), Muscle Energy Technique (MET), ,Post-isometric relaxation(PIR)