Effect of 4 Weeks of Cervical Deep Muscle Flexion Exercise on Headache and Sleep Disorder in Patients with Tension Headache and Forward Head Posture

Wonho Choi, Wonho Choi

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of flexion exercise of the deep cervical muscles on headache and sleep disorders in patients with tension headaches and forward head posture. A total of 32 patients with tension headaches and forward head posture were randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group (n = 16) and a control group (n = 16). The experimental group performed cervical deep muscle flexion exercises for 4 weeks, whereas the control group performed stretching exercises for the same period. The Henry Ford Hospital Headache Disability Inventory (HDI) was used for headache assessment, and the Korean version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-K) was used for sleep disorder assessment. The experimental group showed a significant reduction in both HDI and PSQI-K score after 4 weeks of intervention (p < 0.001), while no significant difference was found in the control group (p > 0.05). On comparing the experimental and control groups, we found a significant difference in changes in the HDI and PSQI-K between the groups (p < 0.05). The results indicate that flexion exercise of the deep cervical muscles in patients with tension headache and forward head posture will improve the quality of life and activities of daily life by mitigating headaches and sleep disorders.

Keywords: deep muscle flexion exercise; headache disorder; sleep disorder; stretching exercise; tension headache.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) General isometric movement Exercise 1. (B) General isometric movement Exercise 2.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cervical deep muscle flexion exercise.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Stretching exercise of pectoralis major and minor.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(A) Stretching exercise of levator scapular (B) upper trapezius.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Measurement of craniovertebral angle.

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