A randomized controlled trial of exercise and manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache.

Authors: Gwendolen Jull, Patricia Trott, Helen Potter, Guy Zito, Ken Niere, Debra Shirley et al.Journal: SpinePublished: October 23, 2002DOI: 10.1097/00007632-200209010-00004

Q1 JournalSJR: 1.096h-index: 186SCImago

Moderate EvidenceRandomized Controlled Trialn=200 participants

Tension Headaches

In Plain Language: headaches, explained

This study investigated the effectiveness of manipulative therapy and exercise for treating cervicogenic headaches, which are headaches stemming from neck issues. The findings showed that both therapies significantly reduced headache frequency and intensity, which suggests that these treatments can help people suffering from this type of headache maintain relief over time.

Key Findings: what this randomised trial found about headaches

✓Manipulative therapy significantly reduced headache frequency and intensity compared to baseline.
✓Specific exercises also resulted in significant relief from headache symptoms.
✓At the 12-month follow-up, effects of treatments were maintained, indicating long-term relief.
✓A combination of therapies provided relief for 10% more patients than individual therapies.
✓No significant superiority was observed in combined therapies compared to individual ones.

What This Means for You

For individuals considering reflexology for cervicogenic headaches, this study indicates that both manipulative therapy and exercise are beneficial in reducing headache symptoms and improving quality of life.

What This Means for Practitioners

Reflexology practitioners can apply these findings by incorporating exercises and manipulative techniques into their treatment plans for clients with cervicogenic headaches to help alleviate their symptoms.

Study Design: how this randomised trial was run

Blinding

open label

Control

none

Duration

6 weeks

Sample Size

200 participants

Limitations: what it cannot tell you about headaches

The study had a loss to follow-up of 3.5%, and results may not be generalizable to all headache types.

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Headaches: common questions

What does this study say about headaches?

What did this study find?

Manipulative therapy significantly reduced headache frequency and intensity compared to baseline. Specific exercises also resulted in significant relief from headache symptoms. At the 12-month follow-up, effects of treatments were maintained, indicating long-term relief.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 200 participants. It was published in Spine, a Q1 journal. This study is indexed here for context; it did not test reflexology itself.