The Efficacy of Manual Therapy and Pressure Biofeedback Guided Strength Training on Pain and Functional Limitations

The Efficacy of Manual Therapy and Pressure Biofeedback Guided Deep Cervical Flexor Muscle Strength Training on Pain and Functional Limitations in Individuals With Cervicogenic Headaches. A Randomized Comparative Study

Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is a widespread illness that results in excruciating pain and a sizable functional handicap. Deep cervical flexor muscle (DCFM) strength and endurance were also worse in CGH patients. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of manual therapy and pressure biofeedback-guided DCFM strength training on pain intensity and functional limitations in individuals with CGH.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cervicogenic Headache
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Pressure biofeedback guided DCFM strength training; Other: Manual therapy; Other: Conventional intervention

Detailed Description

The study followed a two-arms parallel group randomized comparative design, including sixty individuals with CGH, and they were allocated into two groups at random. For three consecutive weeks, in addition to the conventional treatment common to both groups, groups 1 and 2 received pressure biofeedback-guided DCFM strength training and manual therapy, respectively. At baseline, the first week, the second week, and the third week post intervention, pain intensity and functional limitations were evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS), the number of headache days per week, and the headache disability inventory (HDI) questionnaire. The main effects of the intervention were evaluated for a between-group factor, within-group factor, and interaction between time and groups over/at multiple time points. Data was analyzed using an independent t-test, mixed design 2-way ANOVA, with keeping the level of significance 'p' at 0.05.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Saudi Arabia
  • Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 11433
    • Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of applied Medical Science, King Saud University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 25 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individual with a diagnosed case of cervicogenic headache with unilateral head pain without side shift or bilateral head pain with a dominant side that hurts more than the other side, sustained awkward head positioning, external pressure over the upper cervical or occipital region on the symptomatic side.
• Aged between 25 and 50 years
• Patients with recurrent CGH and chronic mechanical neck discomfort that has persisted for longer than three months.
• A positive cervical flexion rotation test.

Exclusion Criteria:

• a negative cervical flexion rotation test.
• Subjects had a history of any of the following conditions: a fractured vertebral column or previous surgery on it; spinal stenosis; a prolapsed disc; temporomandibular joint dysfunction or headaches involving the autonomic nervous system; vertigo or visual disturbance; or a congenital condition of the cervical spine.
• Showed non-cooperation

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group 1; Thirty participants randomly allocated to group 1. All the participants received a pressure biofeedback guided deep cervical flexor muscle strength training along wth conventional intervention.	Other: Pressure biofeedback guided DCFM strength training; A pressure biofeedback guided DCFM strength training was carried out according to the Jull protocol. Keeping the participant's cervical spine in a neutral position and ensuring a stabilizer pressure biofeedback unit placed beneath the cervical lordosis. The pressure sensor was inflated at 20mm Hg. The participants were asked to nod their heads slowly. As the DCFM is activated, the cervical lordosis gently flattens, and the pressure sensor measures an increase in pressure. The activation score is the maximum pressure that can maintain for 10 seconds.; Other: Conventional intervention; A hot pads was applied for 20minutes underneath the cervical spine covering either side of shoulder in a relaxed supine position.
Active Comparator: Group 2; Thirty participants randomly allocated to group 2. All the participants received a manual therapy along wth conventional intervention.	Other: Manual therapy; A manual therapy, including a slow, sustained elongation of muscles with a holding period of 7-10 seconds and a superficial oscillatory mobilization (grade-I) with 1-2 oscillations per second for 30 seconds per session was performed on the DCFM and at the cervical spine (C0-C5), respectively. The participants were asked to lie supine and prone while delivering stretching and mobilization, respectively.; Other: Conventional intervention; A hot pads was applied for 20minutes underneath the cervical spine covering either side of shoulder in a relaxed supine position.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain intensity	The pain intensity was assessed by a visual analogue scale. It is a reliable and valid tool to measure the pain intensity. It is an objective line marked with zero indicate no pain and ten indicate maximum unbearable pain at the either end of the line. Individuals are asked to show the level of pain by putting their fingers on the line between either ends.	6 weeks
Functional limitations	The functional limitation due to cervicogenic headache was evaluated by a self-rated questionnaire called as, Headache Disability Index. A minimum and maximum scores ranges from 0 to 100. a score of 10-28 is considered to constitute mild disability; 30-48 is moderate disability; 50-68 is severe disability; 72 or more is complete disability.	6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: King Saud University
• Collaborators: Majmaah University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: AMIR IQBAL, MPT, King Saud University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 20, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 19, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): September 29, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 11, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 11, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): January 20, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 25, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 20, 2023
• Last Verified: January 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pain; Disability; Manual therapy; Pressure biofeedback; Deep cervical flexor muscles; Muscle Strengthening
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Headache Disorders; Headache Disorders, Secondary; Headache; Post-Traumatic Headache
• Other Study ID Numbers: RRC-2022-04

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