Conventional Physiotherapy Compared to Specific Manual Manipulations Combined with Conventional Physiotherapy in the Treatment of Cervicogenic Headache
Session
Sport, Health and Society
Description
The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of conventional physiotherapy with that of physiotherapy combined with specific manual manipulations of the upper cervical spine in the treatment of patients with cervicogenic headache. Methods: This was a prospective, controlled, randomized parallel-group study. A total of 50 patients with chronic cervicogenic headache (>3 months), aged 18–65 years, were included. Following simple randomization in Excel, patients were divided into two groups of 25 each: the first group received conventional physiotherapy, while the second group received physiotherapy combined with manual manipulations. Data were analyzed using SPSS (v26), employing the Mann-Whitney tests. A statistical significance threshold of p < 0.05was used. Results: The results showed greater improvement in the group that received combined therapy. Post-treatment NDI was 0.72 in the conventional group and 0.56 in the combined group. HDI demonstrated similar reductions (0.24 vs 0.21). Statistically significant differences were identified in the reduction of neck and head pain after 48 hours and after 12 sessions (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Combined therapy is more effective than conventional physiotherapy alone in the treatment of cervicogenic headache. It is recommended that physiotherapists receive training in manual manipulation techniques. Further studies with larger samples and long-term follow-up are needed to reinforce these findings.
Keywords:
Headache, Cervicogenic, Conventional Physiotherapy, Manual Manipulations, Cervical Pain
Proceedings Editor
Edmond Hajrizi
ISBN
978-9951-982-41-2
Location
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
Start Date
25-10-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
26-10-2025 6:00 PM
DOI
10.33107/ubt-ic.2025.310
Recommended Citation
Peli, Burim, "Conventional Physiotherapy Compared to Specific Manual Manipulations Combined with Conventional Physiotherapy in the Treatment of Cervicogenic Headache" (2025). UBT International Conference. 7.
https://knowledgecenter.ubt-uni.net/conference/2025UBTIC/SHS/7
Conventional Physiotherapy Compared to Specific Manual Manipulations Combined with Conventional Physiotherapy in the Treatment of Cervicogenic Headache
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of conventional physiotherapy with that of physiotherapy combined with specific manual manipulations of the upper cervical spine in the treatment of patients with cervicogenic headache. Methods: This was a prospective, controlled, randomized parallel-group study. A total of 50 patients with chronic cervicogenic headache (>3 months), aged 18–65 years, were included. Following simple randomization in Excel, patients were divided into two groups of 25 each: the first group received conventional physiotherapy, while the second group received physiotherapy combined with manual manipulations. Data were analyzed using SPSS (v26), employing the Mann-Whitney tests. A statistical significance threshold of p < 0.05was used. Results: The results showed greater improvement in the group that received combined therapy. Post-treatment NDI was 0.72 in the conventional group and 0.56 in the combined group. HDI demonstrated similar reductions (0.24 vs 0.21). Statistically significant differences were identified in the reduction of neck and head pain after 48 hours and after 12 sessions (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Combined therapy is more effective than conventional physiotherapy alone in the treatment of cervicogenic headache. It is recommended that physiotherapists receive training in manual manipulation techniques. Further studies with larger samples and long-term follow-up are needed to reinforce these findings.