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Manual Therapy vs. Multicomponent Exercise in Cervicogenic Headache

20 agosto 2026 aggiornato da: Borna Farhoomand, Pamukkale University

Effects of Manual Therapy Versus Multicomponent Exercise on Sensorimotor Function, Suboccipital Muscle Thickness, and Central Sensitization in Cervicogenic Headache: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of manual therapy and a multicomponent exercise program on suboccipital muscle thickness, joint position sense, pain, central sensitization, balance, and kinesiophobia in patients diagnosed with cervicogenic headache.

Cervicogenic headache is a common secondary headache originating from dysfunction in the upper cervical spine. Dysfunction in the deep neck muscles, impaired neck joint awareness, and heightened pain sensitivity (central sensitization) are frequently observed in these patients. While both manual therapy and targeted exercise are used in physiotherapy practice, evidence regarding their direct comparative effects on suboccipital muscle morphology and somatosensory parameters remains limited.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups for a duration of 4 weeks (12 sessions total):

  1. Manual Therapy Group: Receives joint mobilization, myofascial release, trigger point release, and suboccipital distraction targeting the cervical region.
  2. Multicomponent Exercise Group: Receives deep cervical flexor strengthening, cervical proprioception training, head-eye coordination training, and progressive balance exercises.

The main questions the study aims to answer are:

  • Do manual therapy and multicomponent exercise improve suboccipital muscle thickness and cervical joint position sense in patients with cervicogenic headache?
  • Is there a significant difference between manual therapy and multicomponent exercise in reducing pain intensity, central sensitization, disability, and fear of movement (kinesiophobia)? It is hypothesized that both intervention protocols will yield significant clinical improvements, with specific synergistic adaptations in muscle structure, somatosensory system processing, and pain-related fear.

Panoramica dello studio

Stato

Non ancora reclutamento

Condizioni

Intervento / Trattamento

Tipo di studio

Interventistico

Iscrizione (Stimato)

32

Fase

  • Non applicabile

Criteri di partecipazione

I ricercatori cercano persone che corrispondano a una certa descrizione, chiamata criteri di ammissibilità. Alcuni esempi di questi criteri sono le condizioni generali di salute di una persona o trattamenti precedenti.

Criteri di ammissibilità

Età idonea allo studio

  • Adulto

Accetta volontari sani

No

Descrizione

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of cervicogenic headache by a specialist physician,
  • Aged between 18 and 45 years,
  • Ability to read and write (literate),
  • Provision of signed informed consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of head or neck surgery,
  • History of spinal surgery,
  • History of severe cardiac conditions or cardiac surgery that contraindicates exercise,
  • History of ongoing or past malignancy,
  • Diagnosis of psychiatric disorders,
  • Diagnosis of migraine,
  • Diagnosis of fibromyalgia,
  • Having received medical (except analgesics), physical therapy, or other interventions (e.g., alternative medicine, massage therapy) for cervicogenic headache within the last 6 months,
  • Engaging in regular exercise or attending an exercise facility within the last 6 months,
  • Experiencing headaches strictly associated with the menstrual period,
  • Investigator decision for exclusion based on ethical or clinical grounds,
  • Communication problems interfering with evaluation and treatment.

Piano di studio

Questa sezione fornisce i dettagli del piano di studio, compreso il modo in cui lo studio è progettato e ciò che lo studio sta misurando.

Come è strutturato lo studio?

Dettagli di progettazione

  • Scopo principale: Trattamento
  • Assegnazione: Randomizzato
  • Modello interventistico: Assegnazione parallela
  • Mascheramento: Doppio

Armi e interventi

Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm
Intervento / Trattamento
Sperimentale: Manual Therapy Group
Participants in this arm will receive 12 sessions of manual therapy (3 sessions per week for 4 weeks). Interventions include upper cervical joint mobilization, myofascial release, suboccipital distraction, and trigger point therapy targeting the suboccipital and cervical region.
Upper cervical joint mobilization, myofascial release, suboccipital distraction, and trigger point therapy targeting the cervical region.
Comparatore attivo: Multicomponent Exercise Group
Participants in this arm will receive 12 sessions of a multicomponent exercise program (3 sessions per week for 4 weeks). Interventions include deep cervical flexor strengthening, cervical proprioception training, gaze stability/head-eye coordination exercises, and progressive postural balance training.
Deep cervical flexor strengthening, cervical proprioception exercises, gaze stability/head-eye coordination training, and progressive balance exercises.

Cosa sta misurando lo studio?

Misure di risultato primarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Change from Baseline Pain Intensity
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and Post-intervention (Week 4)
Evaluated using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) measured in centimeters to assess headache pain intensity.
Baseline and Post-intervention (Week 4)
Change from Baseline Central Sensitization Inventory Score
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and Post-intervention at 4 Weeks
Assessed using the 25-item Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) with a total score ranging from 0 to 100 to evaluate the severity of central sensitization.
Baseline and Post-intervention at 4 Weeks
Change from Baseline Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Score
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and Post-intervention at Week 4
Evaluated using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) 4-point Likert scale (17-68 score range) to measure fear of movement and re-injury.
Baseline and Post-intervention at Week 4
Change from Baseline Migraine Disability Assessment Score
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and Post-intervention at 4 Weeks.
Assessed using the 5-item Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire to evaluate the total number of days with headache-related disability (score range 0 to 21+ for disability severity grades I to IV)
Baseline and Post-intervention at 4 Weeks.
Change from Baseline Neck Disability Index Score
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and Post-intervention at 4 Weeks
Evaluated using the 10-item Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire to measure neck pain-related functional disability (score range 0 to 50, higher scores indicating higher disability).
Baseline and Post-intervention at 4 Weeks

Misure di risultato secondarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Change from Baseline Suboccipital Muscle Thickness
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and Post-intervention at 4 Weeks
Evaluated using B-mode ultrasonography (9-12 MHz linear probe) to measure the thickness (in millimeters) of the rectus capitis posterior major (RCPM) and obliquus capitis superior (OCS) muscles bilaterally at the C1-C2 level.
Baseline and Post-intervention at 4 Weeks
Change from Baseline Cervical Joint Position Sense Error
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and Post-intervention at 4 Weeks
Evaluated using the Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) device to measure cervical joint position error (in degrees) at target angles set at 65% of the participant's active range of motion.
Baseline and Post-intervention at 4 Weeks
Change from Baseline Head-Eye Movement Control Test Score
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and Post-intervention at Week 4
Evaluated using the Head-Eye Movements Control Test, scored as 0 (negative/stable), 1 (moderately positive), or 2 (strongly positive/unstable).
Baseline and Post-intervention at Week 4
Change from Baseline Deep Cervical Flexor Muscle Endurance
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and Post-intervention (Week 4).
Assessed in seconds using the Cervical Deep Neck Flexor Muscle Endurance Test in a hook-lying chin tuck position.
Baseline and Post-intervention (Week 4).
Change from Baseline Postural Balance Score
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and Post-intervention at Week 4
Measured using the Sway mobile application across five stance positions (feet together, left/right tandem, left/right single-leg) under blindfolded conditions, producing a total balance score from 0 to 100.
Baseline and Post-intervention at Week 4
Change from Baseline Cervical Range of Motion
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and Post-intervention at 4 Weeks
Evaluated using the Baseline CROM Deluxe device to measure active cervical flexion, extension, right/left lateral flexion, and right/left rotation in degrees. Two trials will be performed for each movement and the arithmetic mean will be analyzed.
Baseline and Post-intervention at 4 Weeks

Collaboratori e investigatori

Qui è dove troverai le persone e le organizzazioni coinvolte in questo studio.

Sponsor

Studiare le date dei record

Queste date tengono traccia dell'avanzamento della registrazione dello studio e dell'invio dei risultati di sintesi a ClinicalTrials.gov. I record degli studi e i risultati riportati vengono esaminati dalla National Library of Medicine (NLM) per assicurarsi che soddisfino specifici standard di controllo della qualità prima di essere pubblicati sul sito Web pubblico.

Studia le date principali

Inizio studio (Stimato)

1 settembre 2026

Completamento primario (Stimato)

28 febbraio 2027

Completamento dello studio (Stimato)

31 marzo 2027

Date di iscrizione allo studio

Primo inviato

17 agosto 2026

Primo inviato che soddisfa i criteri di controllo qualità

17 agosto 2026

Primo Inserito (Effettivo)

20 agosto 2026

Aggiornamenti dei record di studio

Ultimo aggiornamento pubblicato (Effettivo)

24 agosto 2026

Ultimo aggiornamento inviato che soddisfa i criteri QC

20 agosto 2026

Ultimo verificato

1 agosto 2026

Maggiori informazioni

Termini relativi a questo studio

Altri numeri di identificazione dello studio

  • E-60116787-020-796732

Piano per i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)

Hai intenzione di condividere i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)?

NO

Informazioni su farmaci e dispositivi, documenti di studio

Studia un prodotto farmaceutico regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Studia un dispositivo regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Queste informazioni sono state recuperate direttamente dal sito web clinicaltrials.gov senza alcuna modifica. In caso di richieste di modifica, rimozione o aggiornamento dei dettagli dello studio, contattare register@clinicaltrials.gov. Non appena verrà implementata una modifica su clinicaltrials.gov, questa verrà aggiornata automaticamente anche sul nostro sito web .