"Effectiveness of Kaltenborn Mobilization Techniques Versus Maitland Mobilization on Management of Cervicogenic Headache: A Randomized Controlled Trial." (Effectiveness)

September 9, 2026 updated by: Marium Khalid, Ibadat International University, Islamabad
EFFECTIVENESS OF KALTENBORN MOBILIZATION TECHNIQUES VERSUS MAITLAND MOBILIZATION ON MANAGEMENT OF CERVICOGENIC HEADACHE

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of Kaltenborn and Maitland mobilization techniques in individuals with cervicogenic headache. The study will assess the effects of both interventions on pain intensity, cervical range of motion, neck disability, and headache-related disability. A total of 44 participants aged 18-40 years with clinically confirmed cervicogenic headache will be randomly allocated into two groups. Both groups will receive baseline physiotherapy treatment, while Group A will receive Kaltenborn mobilization and Group B will receive Maitland mobilization for 8 weeks, with three sessions per week. The findings will help determine which mobilization technique is more effective and provide evidence to guide physiotherapists in the management of cervicogenic headache.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
44

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age: 18-40 yrs

    • Gender: male/female
    • Unilateral neck pain and stiffness
    • Cervicogenic headache confirmed with Cervical Flexion Rotation Test
    • Cervical spine ROM>10°
    • Unilateral headache
    • Headache triggered on neck extension

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Congenital conditions of cervical spine

    • Disc herniation
    • Cervical radiculopathy
    • Myelopathy
    • Cervical fracture/ trauma past 3 months
    • Vestibular dysfunction/ VBI
    • TMJ dysfunction related headache
    • Whiplash injury
    • Other types of headache i-e tension type, migraine or cluster type

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Maitland mobilization
Maitland mobilization will consist of passive oscillatory mobilization techniques applied to the symptomatic cervical segments. Mobilization grades I-IV will be selected according to the participant's pain severity, irritability, and limitation of cervical movement. Each mobilization will be performed for 30-60 seconds and repeated for 2-3 sets per affected segment, with the aim of reducing pain and improving cervical joint mobility and range of motion.
Other: Maitland mobilization
Maitland mobilization will consist of passive oscillatory mobilization techniques applied to the symptomatic cervical segments. Mobilization grades I-IV will be selected according to the participant's pain severity, irritability, and limitation of cervical movement. Each mobilization will be performed for 30-60 seconds and repeated for 2-3 sets per affected segment, with the aim of reducing pain and improving cervical joint mobility and range of motion.
Active Comparator: Kaltenborn Mobilization
Kaltenborn mobilization will consist of sustained passive joint mobilization techniques applied to hypomobile cervical segments. Grades I-III mobilizations will be selected according to the participant's pain level, joint mobility, and clinical findings. Each mobilization will be performed for 2-3 sets per affected cervical segment, with the aim of reducing pain, improving joint play, and increasing cervical range of motion.
Other: Kaltenborn
Kaltenborn mobilization will consist of sustained passive joint mobilization techniques applied to hypomobile cervical segments. Grades I-III mobilizations will be selected according to the participant's pain level, joint mobility, and clinical findings. Each mobilization will be performed for 2-3 sets per affected cervical segment, with the aim of reducing pain, improving joint play, and increasing cervical range of motion.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Time Frame: baseline and after 8 weeks
The **Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)** is an 11-point scale used to assess pain intensity, ranging from **0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain)**. Participants will be asked to rate their current neck/headache pain by selecting the number that best represents their pain intensity.
baseline and after 8 weeks
Neck Disability Index (NDI)
Time Frame: baseline and after 8 weeks
The **Neck Disability Index (NDI)** is a standardized questionnaire used to assess neck pain-related disability and its impact on daily activities. It consists of **10 items**, with higher scores indicating greater levels of disability.
baseline and after 8 weeks
Inclinometer to asses ROM
Time Frame: baseline and after 8 weeks
An **inclinometer** is a reliable measuring device used to assess cervical spine range of motion (ROM). It measures cervical flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation in degrees, allowing objective evaluation of changes in cervical mobility before and after treatment.
baseline and after 8 weeks
Headache Disability Index (HDI)
Time Frame: baseline and after 8 weeks
The **Headache Disability Index (HDI)** is a standardized questionnaire used to assess the impact of headache on a participant's daily activities and emotional well-being. It evaluates functional and emotional limitations associated with headache, with higher scores indicating greater headache-related disability.
baseline and after 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Ibadat International University, Islamabad

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Marium Khalid, Ms-OMPT, Ibadat International University, Islamabad

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 20, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 28, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 9, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 9, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 9, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • IIUI/RERC/ADT/2026/02//242

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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