Deep Neck Flexor Exercises Versus Myofascial Release of Suboccipital Muscles in Chronic Tension-type Headache

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-55
SponsorIran University of Medical Sciences

About this trial

According to the study of the burden of diseases in 2018, tension-type headache(TTH) is the most common type of primary headache and ranks third in terms of prevalence among 328 diseases and injuries in 195 countries from 1990 to 2016. Suffering from this disorder (especially chronic type) reduces the quality of life of patients.

The main objective of this study is to compare the effects of myofascial release of suboccipital muscles as a bottom-up intervention and Deep Neck Flexor(DNF) exercises with Pressure Biofeedback Unit(PBU) as a top-down intervention on headache parameters, the intensity of Forward Head Posture(FHP), disability, quality of life, and suboccipital Pressure Pain Threshold(PPT) in patients with chronic tension-type headache with forward head posture.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Age between 18 and 55 years;

based on ICHD-3, Headache that occurs 15 days per month and lasts on average for >3 months (180 days per year), lasting hours to days, or unremitting, and has at least two of the following four characteristics recognized as CTTH: bilateral location, pressing or tightening (non-pulsating) quality, mild or moderate intensity, not aggravated by routine physical activity such as walking or climbing stairs and both of the following: no more than one of photophobia, phonophobia or mild nausea, neither moderate or severe nausea nor vomiting;

Dosage and type of prophylactic medication have not changed in the months before the beginning of the trial;

The participant does not intend to change the dosage and type of prophylactic medication during the study;

Disqualifiers

Participants with infrequent ETTH, or other primary or secondary types of headache;

Pain aggravated by movement of the head;

Severe pain or significant decrease in ROM of the cervical spine;

Previous trauma to the cervical spine;

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Suboccipital Myofascial Release(MFR) with sham Deep Neck Flexor(DNF)exercise
  • Deep Neck Flexor(DNF)exercise with sham Suboccipital Myofascial Release(MFR)

Treatment groups

44 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups

Locations

This trial has no locations